RPO Newsbag
This is the Lowell Smith Signature Series and RailSmith blog, (or perhaps it's better called, ‘stories around the caboose stove’). Either way, bookmark this page for updates as they happen and check back regularly!
City of Prineville Railway: A new chapter
On January 14th Barb and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. On that day, we moved the last truck of household goods from our home of 27 years in Portland, to the Central Oregon town of Prineville. You may have heard of the ‘City of Prineville Railway’. You may have been wondering ‘what happened to…
King of the Cowboys
Years ago when Barb and I met Roy Rogers Jr. “Dusty” as he is known, it was a very special moment. Being able to include this name in our Great American Circus and Wild West Show is just a treat! It is a shame most kids today do not know of Roy Rogers. Time moves…
Union Pacific’s Pony Cars
We have just returned from our private-car charter with this time being from LA to Denver in the winter. We called it the ‘Polar Smith Express’ and there was no disappointment, because it was blue skies or snowing and was such a delight. You can see some of the photos trickling in by checking out…
Press Release: Lowell Smith Purchases Tooling From Wm. K. Walthers
Lowell Smith is very pleased to announce the recent ‘purchase of tooling’ of the Walthers line of N Scale passenger cars. The line includes the sleeper, coach and baggage cars in both fluted and smooth-side versions. The line will be released under the new name of RailSmith Models. RailSmith also plans to expand this line…
Going, Going… GONE!
This past year we saw the remaining stock of American Fruit Packers reefers find happy homes. There were just a few of each of the past 5-6 years left for what seemed to be a long time. Now you will find only a couple of cars available. I pulled the final three to create a…
Executive Line Illinois Central Cars Are Rolling
‘Ridin on the City of New Orleans!’ is one of my favorite train songs, and I can’t help but hear it when I see these cars. (listen and watch the music video below, if you haven’t heard it) I received an email from John who was ‘just hoping’ that I would do the Illinois Central cars…
Final Stock…!? (Sept 2017 Update)
I do not have a way, on my website, to indicate when stock is ‘getting low’ so here is the inside scoop! This past year we saw the remaining stock of American Fruit Packers reefers find happy homes. There were just a few of each of the past 5-6 years cars left for what seemed to…
Meet Dale: 30-Year National Park Ranger Retiree
As I am thinking about what National Park to do next in the National Park Series, I have to tell you a story that is fresh on my mind. A couple months back, I received a call from a customer who asked if he could pay for expedited shipping of his order and explained it…
Disney’s Most Colorful Train on Rails!
What if Walt Disney had a train? Well, he did! You probably know the story of Walt’s live steam train in his backyard. The Carolwood Pacific, named for the street he lived on, was famous and is well loved today. You can see the consist including the famous 4-4-0 Lilly Belle at the Walt Disney…
Pullman Tourist Sleepers – a colorful story!
This is a very exciting new series that is just now launching, and I want to tell you all about it! After World War II in the late 1940’s, the Pullman Company was busy building new streamlined cars for America’s railroads. Their fleet of heavyweight cars were being used in secondary trains, as well as…