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!

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…

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A Snippet of My C-636 Story

From a very young age I have always loved trains, and I had my first HO train set when I was about 7. I jumped into N Scale in the late 60’s with Postage Stamp, Bachmann, and ConCor. Living in Portland, Oregon I decided that the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway would be the one…

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Stock Remaining

I love the fall!  Actually, I love every change of season and in Portland we get each season to enjoy.  Train season, of course, is my favorite! It is here!   Once-a-year I release an American Fruit Packers car and this year is the 21st car and represents the 21st year of this series.  Wow, time…

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Ferdinand Magellan: Body Style A Smashing Success!

The Ferdinand Magellan is the first in this line with the brand new body style which Micro Trains made just for Lowell Smith Signature Series. The original Ferdinand Magellan railcar was built in 1929 by the Pullman Company as a private car. It was one of six similar cars constructed in two batches. They were…

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Announcing the Ferdinand Magellan: Releasing Feb. 2016!

U.S. No. 1 This is one of those announcements that I have been looking forward to for quite awhile! Micro-Trains has created a brand-new car for my Executive Line Series.  This project has been in the works for a very long time, and the time has come for it’s unveiling. New car sides were created…

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The Next Big Thing

As I am now preparing to go to the NMRA National Convention here in Portland, I am excited and amazed at what has happened since this great convention was here in 1994. Our club, Columbia River N Scale, was celebrating its 10th anniversary. My shop, The Hobby Smith, was in the basement and I was…

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It’s all about the story…

I have been asked, “Have you always loved trains?”  The response is, “Yes ever since I can remember.”  I have memories of being small and having Grandma come to visit us in Chico, CA by way of the Shasta Daylight.  There are also photos of me in Gerber, CA standing on the platform of a bay-window…

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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…

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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.  It took some time to decide which company to use, as I was concerned for the quality of the finished product.  Never seeing…

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Teaser: Preproduction ‘Tiger Stripe’ RS-3

It is just like Christmas when a production run arrives here!  The moment of opening the box, and gazing for the first time, a train that was probably thought of years before and took at least a year to produce. It is very exciting for me and I hope you feel the same way.  …

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Latest On The Track

What They Say:

Dan D.

I look forward to continuing to buy trains from my favorite special run train maker. That’s how I think of you now, “The Train Maker”.  And speaking of cool trains, I just received a box loaded with great looking Texas Special cars. Thanks.  I certainly look forward to all the new releases you are planning.

R.L.

Ferdinand Magellan is great! This really fits your mission of offering significant cars that otherwise wouldn’t be produced.

R.M.

You know I’m always looking forward to the next release and its arrival with great anticipation. I treasure my Lowell Smith Signature collection.

Chuck T.

Just a quick note to acknowledge receipt of my AFT Tool Car. Thanks so much for another Outstanding Piece of Craftsmanship! The AFT is my most prized “N” Scale collection. I had perceived that there were delays in getting this last car into our hands, but thought it was a problem with China. Your letter…

Charles

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

J. Echlin

Many thanks for your superb offerings and beautiful work!

Gordon and Dorothy

I have never been treated as graciously and in a manner more suited to a VIP in my life, as I was on our train trip.  It’s obvious how you’ve made your life a success story.  Looking around the train and seeing your friends I’m pretty sure they  were all made to feel very special by you, and your…

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.  

Rad J.

Lowell, I am very pleased with the N Scale Ferdinand Magellan Presidential car. As a retired US Secret Service agent I have conducted security advances for the president and his family traveling by train. I have done a lot of research on the Ferdinand Magellan and the model has excellent detail. It will be an…

Paul G.

I just received my Carolwood Pacific cars yesterday. They are exquisite! Every attention to detail was paid here, and I can’t thank you enough for putting this into production.  They are going to look amazing, circling my main Street miniatures display.