Al

…...ts. Roar: So you have felt and smelt the beautiful fjords, but never seen them. Al: Well, on an earlier trip, we did take the railroad to Bergen. Over the mountai...…

….... Roar: I’ve never actually taken that trip myself, but I heard it’s wonderful. Al: It was not for us. We got to the top, up in the top of the mountains. And the...…

…...is a good segue, because you do like trains, don’t you? At least model trains? Al: Yes, I do. I’ve been a model railroader for most of my life. I got my first mo...…

…...add any miniature figures or models and stuff like that in the scenery as well? Al: Sure, yeah, lots of stuff. In fact, I built buildings out of balsa wood. And I...…

…...where the locomotive is about five inches long. Roar: So your son is 45, then? Al: Yes! Roar: Yes, then you could have been my dad, because I’m 46. Al: Well, you...…

…...45, then? Al: Yes! Roar: Yes, then you could have been my dad, because I’m 46. Al: Well, you’re the right age, then, I guess. Model trains are not what they used...…

…...of the board of directors of the 4th Division of the Pacific Northwest region. Al: The Pacific Northwest Region of the NMRA, yeah. I did that for 10 years at lea...…

…...d they’re much better, so I’m happy. Roar: But you didn’t get any money for it? Al: No, no, it’s a volunteer organization. At first we did a paper newsletter ever...…

…...for 24 years. Roar: Are there any physical magazines about model trains today? Al: Yes. Well, the man who ran one of the biggest ones just passed away and so his...…

…...re’s one for each of the scales, for HO and S and O and G for garden railroads. Al: It’s an old hobby. A weird hobby, in that it follows my path. Most people get...…

…...t done it for 20 years, it’s not that hard to just continue where you left off? Al: Actually, it has changed completely with computers. So you couldn’t be more wr...…

…...s for you this was not a bad thing at all, because you love that kind of stuff. Al: Oh, no, right? It was right up my the alley there. Roar: I have some experienc...…

…...rience painting Warhammer miniature figures. Did you paint miniatures yourself? Al: Yeah. The trouble with N Scale is that the people are very small. It’s a chall...…

…...s right. Roar: And that’s at least one thing that does not get easier with age. Al: No, no, that’s true. But I have lots of special tools for that. I have an opti...…

…...in on things and paint the tiny little stuff. Roar: Pretending to be a cyborg. Al: Yeah, well … getting the help I need. Al Lowe and music Roar: Music is very im...…

…...d of course, I had played these games earlier, but never picked up on the name. Al: I hope you paid me a royalty. Roar: Yeah, of course! So for me you were a musi...…

…...e you were a musician before I found out that you had also created these games. Al: Well, I was involved with a lot of Sierra products in one way or another. I wo...…

…...ey go for music, game developing, or anything else in their father’s footsteps? Al: Of course not. They’re my kids. Roar: Since you’re a saxophone player, I would...…

…...one player, I would guess that you can play a lot of other instruments as well? Al: Well, I was a high school band director, so I had to learn to play every instr...…

…...ng. Get your coffee now, before continuing… Roar: Have you ever been to Norway? Al: Oh yeah, sure. I have this eyeball right here. It works because I spent a week...…