American Freedom Train on the Blues

AFTFreezeFor most it’s a life dream to build a model railroad. For the past 25 years one of my rail buddies, Keith Schaber, has been building his Union Pacific Blue Mountain Division. Built on two levels, with operating signals and many sidings, a train will take a real 50-plus minutes to go from one end to the other and operating sessions call for several yard crews, many ‘locals’, and can handle all the ‘road crews’ that show up!

Keith did not build it alone. As the tradition here in the Monday night ’round robin’ group is all about going from layout-to-layout to help build or operate the model layout, whichever the owner decides for his assigned Monday. Thus, we all had a part in helping Keith build his amazing layout.

Six weeks ago we all came together for the final run. It was a hard decision to take down such an amazing work of art, and it is clear that you must “own the building your railroad is in”. Knowing it was coming down created motivation to film a train ‘over the hill’ and to document what would soon be, and now is, a memory. So I enlisted the help of my son, who for all of his life has been part of our N Scale group, and we set up a total of three cameras as the train rolled past. Although we have never done this before, the outcome was good. Later, I took my Great American Circus & Wild West Show as an ‘Extra East’, but that video is still being edited and will post sometime later.

You’ll see here the seven-minute version of my American Freedom Train west bound, on July 12, 2014, which was the last day of operations on the Blue Mountain Division. 

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Lowell Smith

A native of Portland, Oregon, Lowell Smith married his church choir sweetheart Barb in 1978. After a lifetime of rail-fanning, Lowell and Barb ventured out in 1992 to launch a new business in Portland, Oregon. Read more

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What They Say:

R.M.

These are indeed miniature masterpieces.

Joe W.

And as for your goal of 5 releases a year, I admire your ambition, but I won’t hold it against you if you fall short on that accomplishment.  I’m just thrilled you’re doing such an AWESOME job of releasing this amazing train, and hope you don’t stop until it’s all done!

Anonymous

The thing I love about all the things you do is the fact that everything is so well thought out, so beautiful and so unique.  

R. K.

You are in my book one of the very best.

D.K.

Aside from the quality, creativity and originality, you are to be commended for your ongoing commitment to this (GAC) series, and all of your series of trains over a period of so many years.  There is always something to look forward to. Keep up the great work!’ D. K.

Bill S.

That car is about the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in N scale!  Excellent work!

Charles

“You have received many compliments when I have run my RailSmith cars with my friends.”

Anonymous

What a trip! We had a great time- exceeded our expectations by a mile. The Silver Lariat was simply stunning. A gem on the rails. The scenery and weather were perfect. The delays were not an issue for us at all. All just a good days work on the railroad! Thank you for all the…

J.R.

Lowell, I received my Great Locomotive Chase set today. “THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.” Keep up the good work.

D.G.

Nothing better than receiving that white box from Lowell Smith.