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 held in reserve for heavy-volume periods for charters and ‘specials’.  These heavyweight cars were painted the fleet colors of the time, so when used would blend into the trains consist.  The cars were very often interchanged and run in ‘specials’ creating a most interesting colorful train!  I have photos of Pennsy cars in the consist of many different railroads crack passenger trains.  Issues of the UPHS Streamliner show UP trains with a string of Tourist Sleepers on the end painted in the colors of L&N, ACL, and Pennsy.

 

It was a new era for railroads, as for the first time they had to compete for travel business.  Airlines, and the automobile, were coming of age and started taking a toll on the railroad’s passenger service profit-and-bottom-line.  The term ‘Tourist Sleeper’ was used to define a sort of economy version of the famous Pullman cars.  Now railroads had ‘Tourist Sleepers’ to entice riders with affordable options and create the desire to visit vacation locations.  National Parks were of course high on the list of places to see, and the railroads made sure that the public was well aware that they had trains to these favorite destinations.  The biggest form of advertising in those days were magazines.  The Saturday Evening Post and National Geographic were two of the favorites that targeted leisure, news stories, and general interest of the day.  Remember that television did not become common place in homes until the 1950’s.  Colorful ads graced the pages of these magazines in telling a story of the times.

 

My new Pullman Park Series is planned to produce cars that ran from the 1940’s to the late 1960’s.  They are colorful sleepers that continued to take passengers to destinations of grandeur.

 

‘Tourist Sleepers to the 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:

Jerry

I really am enjoying what you are producing, Lowell! Thanks for doing it. Jerry

B. Kutch

Love your 3-rail O Scale Atlas Woodside Reefer series. Looking forward to future issues.

K.

My kids absolutely love the Christmas cars! The C.K. Holiday, along with the Carolwood and Disney cars makes a wonderful Christmas train. It made many a loop under our tree this year.

K.

I am looking forward to many more releases in the new year. I stayed up really late on Christmas to talk to Santa when he came by our house. I asked him for an n-scale SP&S 700, and he said that was out of his league and I’d better call you.

K L

What a trip! We had a great time- exceeded our expectations by a mile. The Silver Lariat was simply stunning. A gem on the rails. The scenery and weather were perfect. The delays were not an issue for us at all. All just a good days work on the railroad! Thank you for all the…

Ray F.

I just wanted you to know my O gauge Hood River Pears car came yesterday in perfect condition. This car is just beautiful I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Keep up the good work.

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…

A.M.

“You seem to be the shining light in an industry that’s seen a lot of change since the early 2000’s when I was last in the hobby”.

Jeff B.

Keep up setting the bar high and providing a product that exceeds expectations.

J. LaBoda

To say the least this is a HUGE development for N-scale and I, along with a number of others, are indebted to you for making these cars possible. Thanks so very much!!!