RailSmith Plans Revealed
My plan and hope is to create some very famous ‘name trains’ that have, in some cases, never been done in N scale.
Production is expected to be releases of 8 paint schemes at a time, with two road names (or numbers) per scheme. Releases like this will continue about five months apart. Naturally, future scheme runs will be based on the success of previous runs.
Great attention will be given to the paint, lettering, colors, and scale, to match historical societies and actual production records.
Prototype versus Classic
The RailSmith 10/6 Sleeper is based on the common Pullman Plan 4140. In some cases, a prototype may have had the roomettes on the vestibule end (a different floor plan of a 10/6 sleeper). In the case of a variation such as that, I will label these small variations as “CLASSIC” on the insert packaging.
A ‘Classic’ car is very, very close to the actual car but not 100%. Otherwise, a model that is 100% prototype will show “PROTO” on the insert label. In a coach example, the RailSmith coach is a Pullman 64-seat coach. I plan to produce, under the “CLASSIC” label, a 52-seat coach. As long as it was still built by Pullman and has the rectangular-shaped windows, it is my belief that a correctly decorated railcar with window arrangement close to prototype will be well accepted and appreciated by the modeling community. Especially since no other car like it may ever be done in that scheme. Most all other passenger car producers do this but don’t indicate when a car is ‘close’.
A Couple Questions Answered
Q: Will you produce ‘ complete’ trains?
A: My completing the American Freedom Train is an example of my commitment to do that. However, in this case, I can say that I will produce accurate cars for a particular train as long as the inventory moves. There are many body styles that have never been done, and I will hope to add them to the RailSmith line-up.
Q: What new body styles are you considering first?
A: *Plan 7510 -56 seat coach, *Plan 4119 -Duplex Sleeper, *Plan 7540 -Fluted diner, and *Plan 7536 -Fluted RPO. When this formally begins, I will make that announcement.
In just a few weeks I will share what ’TRAINS’ I will be working on first. In the mean time, here are some logos to give hints of the first year.
RELATED: Visit my RailSmith page here!
Hi
Wow! I am thrilled that Katy and Frisco are in the line up. Thank you.
If you are considering NYC corrugated cars may I suggest that you consider lettering with the gray background panel?
Off to lie down….
Regards
Gerry
Gerry, Silver fluted cars, gray lettering board and white lettering? if that is what you are talking about, can you tell me what trains they were run in, or where I can see more info on them?
Thanks for taking time to write.
L
Lowell where is the SP&S logo for the 5 & 6
Funny Nick, I’ve done most of the cars for SPS 5&6. But there will be more…
Lowell,
The NYC applied the gray lettering board with white lettering to various silver fluted cars starting in the mid-50’s. Of course, not all fluted cars got this treatment since by then the NYC wasn’t too concerned with maintaining a consistent look to the passenger trains. These cars were in general service, so could show up in just about any train. I’ve attached a link to a picture of one of the PS coaches in this paint scheme.
As a NYC guy, I’m looking forward to seeing what cars you will be releasing.
Thanks Brian for this. Yes I am looking at these cars. Do you think the roofs were silver originally and now dirty gray?
Lowell,
I see where “Portland” was an SP&S owned Plan 4119. Will that 1948 scheme be included?
Ken
Well, you know me, and you really don’t need to ask. Right?
Lowell, Great to see the many roads you will be offering down the road, as a passenger train Fanzee I’ am excited. Remember when you do Rio Grande their sleepers were fluted sided not smooth like Walthers did and the same with their baggage car. Thanks! Nate Goodman Salt Lake City, Utah.
Hi Nate! I sure hope to see you in June at the convention in your town!
Yes I am looking at all the DRGW rolling stock. Thanks for the note.
Let’s talk more about it at the convention.
Hi Lowell,
SO, 1] now that you are doing silver fluted RPOs and silver fluted diners — then, 2] you can do the ex-Katy SP & S silver with yellow band fluted RPO and diner. YES.
And you said it yourself. Saving my nickels (no pennies in Canada).
[Having said that, I reveal my interest for your planning wisdom.]
Glen
Curious, are the RAILSMITH cars being made by Micro-Trains? Also will the passenger cars have electrical pickups similar to Kato passenger cars? – As always thank you for being a perfect ambassador for our hobby.
Jeff, Not made at MTL, yes metal wheels with lighting capabilities (sold separately and not with this first release)
Lowell, looking forward to your Texas Special, Frisco, and Atlantic Coast Line cars. Your correct, I don’t know why other companies haven’t made more cars, sets, road names, etc, but then agin I’m not a business man. I’ll be buying every car in those 3 sets for sure. I’m in the 80 percent who just wants nice models an not picky. Thanks and can’t wait, Rick
As an N scale NYC fan, I would hope that the post war (or pre war) 20th century limited, is one
of your entrees for production. It hasn’t been done (authentically) by anyone yet. Also, the heavyweight Pullman car which was first the Ferdinand Magellan has only been done in N scale by you. Please do
it again. Thanks.