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!
Office Car Special Power!
Here is something different. I have set up to do a survey and would love to get your opinion. The Norfolk Southern’s Office Car Special has it’s own special power of F units. Running the complete train the units are run in A-B-B-A configuration. I have chosen the InterMountain Railway’s F7 for this as they…
Gone by Noon- Roanoke Part 3
Every year since the third N Scale Convention in Baltimore, MD, I have made what has come to be called the ‘Concept Car’ that is released the morning of the Swap-A-Rama. This year was as big a surprise as ever, when I released a Micro-Trains production special run for this convention car! Shown here, the…
Roanoke N Convention Part 2
Another great time at the National N Scale Convention! If you’ve never been to one, you really need to go. Â Besides a great Swap Meet with major N Scale manufacturers, there are clinics, auctions, rail tours, layout home tours, and even model contests. Â The winner in the model contest this year, for the category ‘best…
National N Scale Convention
Most every year Barb and I make it a priority to visit a different part of our country with our friends of the organization known as the N Sale Enthusiast. This year the convention was held in Roanoke, Virginia. We had never been to that part of the state, so we knew it would be…
Norfolk Southern Office Car Special
Several railroads today have what is called an ‘Office Car Special’, a term used for the executive train. Often the call sign or train symbol for this type of train is OCS. When I was looking for cars to produce for my Executive Line Series, the Norfolk Southern paint scheme jumped out at me as…
Silver Smith Tours 2015
I just added a tab to my home page that will allow you to check out what is next in the way of private varnish trips. After last year’s trip to Milwaukee was a huge success, and then 70% of those riders reserved on this years trip to Durango, it is a huge ‘vote of…
And now for something completely different…
Words can’t explain how excited I am about this! A few years ago, I decided it would be fun to do something completely different by ‘testing the waters’ in a larger scale. Â It took some time to decide which company to use, as I was concerned for the quality of the finished product. Â Never seeing…
Getting it Right – Again! (Part 2)
Speaking of getting it right, I had every confidence that the next Executive Line release, the Norfolk Southern’s West Virginia, would have no problem being on time. I have been watching ‘closely’ the production over the months and keeping ‘tuned in’ to confirm delivery at the end of April. The inserts were ready, and the…
Getting it Right
Set to ‘release’ soon is the latest in my Executive Line Series of business cars. The Norfolk Southern’s ‘West Virginia‘, is beautiful! In fact, the entire NS ‘Office Car Special’ is a beautiful train! I have several connections in that area, and with the NS, and they have been most helpful in providing photo details,…
Where does the idea come from?
Last summer while at the NSE convention, my good friend Richard Fisher approached me. He suggested that “since I knew Walt Disney, I should do a set of engines from his movie, ‘The Great Locomotive Chase’”! Rather funny, but a serious idea. Richard will be rewarded for his idea. He also will be joining us…