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 was a retirement gift. Of course I said ‘yes’ and as I looked at his order I noticed it was from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park Headquarters in Gatlinburg, TN! It seems that Dale had a retirement ceremony scheduled soon.

As it turns out, Dale loves trains, and my National Park Centennial Tour train set was just the gift for Dale! I gave them a deal on his shipping if I would allow me to use photos of the retirement to share here with you.  After 30 years of service a National Park Ranger retired, and it was special for me that they thought of my train as the desired gift for Dale!

Thanks Dale for your 30 years of service to our National Parks.

Lowell Smith

A native of Portland, Oregon, Lowell Smith married his church choir sweetheart Barb in 1978. After a lifetime of rail-fanning, Lowell and Barb ventured out in 1992 to launch a new business in Portland, Oregon. Read more

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What They Say:

R.L.

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

R. M.

Lowell, I just want you to know – you make this hobby fun!

M. Magliaro

I received my #99 business card in the mail today. It looks superb. Thank you for another wonderful job. You are really filling a niche.

G.P.

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

R. LeBrun

Thank you for all that you do for the N Scale community. Your products by far, in my opinion, are the top of the line when it comes to N Scale Trains and I am always on the lookout for them when they come up for auction.

R. K.

You are in my book one of the very best.

K. Lyons

Thank you for everything you’ve done and everything you do for the modeling community. I can honestly say that my enjoyment of the hobby has benefited greatly because of you.

Linda and Pete B.

Just wanted to thank you again for the opportunity to be with you and the many other happy folks who experienced the Feather River Canyon trip.  I know you put a lot of work into making this special trip a reality and it all came together extremely well!

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.  

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.