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!

The Story Behind a ‘Classic’ Train

What are we talking about when we say ‘Classic’ trains car? For those of you that have jumped on the RailSmith train more recently, I thought it would be helpful to clarify what we are calling a ‘Classic’ passenger car. It’s our opinion that you the consumer would like to know more about the models…

Read More »

Northern Pacific Terminal Co. – Portland Terminal Railroad Co.

‘Sharing some love’ I am sure you never saw this coming, but with all these great passenger trains being made, we need a ‘Terminal’ switcher right? Many of you are familiar with the Terminal Railroad of St Louis, but what about this line of similar purpose in the Northwest? Over twenty five years ago I…

Read More »

Bringing the Baggage Cars to Your Trains

RailSmith is excited to announce that we are working with Wheels of Time to bring you the very best Head End cars for our Build-a-Train series of train consists! Pressed with the issue of needing heavy-weight Mail & Express Baggage cars, we have made an agreement with, in our opinion the best HW baggage cars in N…

Read More »

A Yellowstone Celebration!

We love to celebrate our parks. This year we must celebrate ‘all that America is’ in our parks, with the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of YELLOWSTONE, our first park. Only 150 years ago, in 1872, President US Grant signed the document making Yellowstone a national park. ‘National’ because Wyoming was still a territory and not a state yet.…

Read More »

To BSB or Not to BSB

Building an Accurate Train… We always want to do the best we can to create an accurate train in our Build-a-Train process. That said, lets consider the Big Sky Blue sleepers we recently announced in our new P-S 4119 (Duplex) plan. Our research for this GN ‘River’ series (each car having the suffix ‘River’ in…

Read More »

New Duplex Sleeper

We have selected and begun production on our latest RailSmith N Scale model – a new duplex sleeper! As railroads entered the ‘Streamline Era’, sleeping cars were developed that had a variety of accommodations all in the same car.  These were a popular choice in this time of expansion. Pullman-Standard led the way with the…

Read More »

Newly Tooled Coach!

New N scale model is in production! Our ’newly tooled’ Coach, is a Pullman-Standard car that follows the plan 7510. We are very excited to bring this car that has never before been produced in N Scale. This coach was seen in several paint schemes and will offer a nice variety to the N Scale modeler…

Read More »

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…

Read More »

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…

Read More »

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…

Read More »

Latest On The Track

What They Say:

Bill S.

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

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…

G.N.

As a retiree of the Walt Disney Company I look forward to upcoming releases of the Disney Family Museum and Disneyland series.  Keep up the excellent work!

Jerry E.

Received GN A10 today. Absolutely stunning! I am very pleased. Thank You all.

G.P.

I just received the “The Great Locomotive Chase” set from the Walt Disney Family Museum. Very nicely done!

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.M.

These are indeed miniature masterpieces.

Charlie S.

Thank you for producing such well researched quality offerings.

J D

Thanks, Lowell, for another awesome addition to an already incredible train.

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.