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!
A Time To Build
“For everything there is a season… A time to tear down and a time to build up.” Ecclesiastes 3:3 (NLT). ‘A Time To Build’…. This recent title on the issue of Cowcatcher magazine really caught me. If we take just that part of the scripture, it sure rings true right now. It really is a ’time to…
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Passenger Service on the SP&S
The picture below tells a fun story of this Northwest train, our next Build-a-Train consist. The SP&S Train #2 ran from Portland to Spokane. Train #1 ran the opposite direction. This photo shows its late-day trip west of Wishram, Washington traveling at speed over the fill at Horse Thief Lake, with the mighty Columbia River in the…
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Isolated But Not Alone!
We may be isolated but we are not alone! If you are making lemonade out of lemons, you are spending quality time with your family, and building your railroad! And, how can that be bad? I would be working on my model railroad, if it were not for the production of the American Freedom Train, which…
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Build-A-Train Success – The Texas Special
The Texas Special roll out has gone very well. By the end of this year, 2020, we project that all of the cars will be available or close to shipping, with the exception of the Buffet Lounge and the E-7 power. The power should be announced about 12 months from now. The speed of this…
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2020 is an Exciting New Year
You are probably saying this too, ‘Time is sure going fast.’ So much happened last year, and there’s so much to reflect upon. On a connected note, thank you with your well wishes, and similar stories, responding to my last blog ‘Thankful’ (about Prostate Cancer). I am surrounded by friends and that is the’ best’ we can…
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A Texas Special Day
I’ve been blessed the past couple of years being able to attend the RPM Chicagoland meet. Events like this provide lots of inspiration and fellowship – something we all need. Speaking of inspiration, my friends at Modutrak, (Milwaukee based N scale group), are always inspiring, and they showoff some of the finest N Scale modeling…
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Our Trip to Promontory for the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike
My wife Barb and I planned a year in advance to be in Utah for the 150th anniversary of the Gold Spike. It was every bit as big a deal as we thought it would be, and we are so glad we were there! We took two days to drive from our central Oregon home…
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Building Them Right: Creating the Pennsy Cars
What does it take to creating the Pennsy Cars? Let’s talk about it. The Pennsylvania business cars are the 32-35th cars in this Executive Line Series. I thought I’d stop and share the resources I used to make these cars. It will help you see a few of the challenges of this series. In the…
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Consist Chart Choices
I have found it useful to have a visual aid when it comes to passenger train consists, so when it came time to build a chart for some of the trains I plan to build in RailSmith, I found it fun and challenging. As seasons and years pass, changes would come to how a railroad…
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RailSmith Development
Learning more about trains… I love all the feedback and responses I have had about RailSmith Models and what direction to go! I read each one and have filed them for review. Being from the great Northwest, my passion has always been for the Hill Lines, and specifically the Spokane, Portland, & Seattle, and many…
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