Silver Smith Tours 2015

I just added a tab to my home page that will allow you to check out what is next in the way of private varnish trips. After last year’s trip to Milwaukee was a huge success, and then 70% of those riders reserved on this years trip to Durango, it is a huge ‘vote of confidence’ that we’re doing something right!
Next year’s National N Scale Convention is going to take place in Sacramento, a town that I grew up in. (That is a big reason why I love the Western Pacific and the California Zephyr. I lived there in the sixties, and I have lots of memories of trains in that town. But more of that in another blog!)

Anyway, I went to work on putting together a trip up the famed Feather River Canyon. The specifics of that trip can be seen on the web with a link here… This trip is a ‘Special’, which is a term meaning that we will have our own train, as Amtrak does not run those rails. That brings a level of complication to a private train, but I am relying on the expert that has put trips like this together before. The trip is one day only. It will include three meals and scenery that will be unbeatable! Since it is planned for the Sunday before the week-long convention, it was a surprise to find out that Sunday June 21, 2015, will be Father’s Day. As I say, any excuse is a good one to ride a train, so this trip has become the ‘Father’s Day Special’. There needs to be a minimum of 130 people to make it work, and I know there are that many folks that would like to take this trip, but getting the word out there will be very important.

Knowing that the ‘Father’s Day Special’ has a level of complication that could terminate the plans, I have come up with a second train that is much easier and more in the liking of what I have done the past two years. Our Disneyland Adventure will take a single car on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from Emeryville, bussing from Sacramento’s convention, and heading down California’s coast line to Los Angeles. We will spend two days in Disneyland, and California Adventure, before returning back to the town of origin on the fourth day. All the details are listed on the link from my web site and here, as well.

What are you doing next summer?

Lowell & Barb outside of the Silver Smith.

Lowell & Barb outside of the Silver Smith.

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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:

J.R.

Lowell, I received my Great Locomotive Chase set today. “THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.” Keep up the good work.

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.

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…

G.D.

Lowell, thanks to you and your company SP&S modelers (myself included) are having a much easier time modeling the North Bank Road. Thank you for your hard work!

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”.

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!

R. K.

You are in my book one of the very best.

R.L.

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

R.M.

These are indeed miniature masterpieces.

J. Echlin

Many thanks for your superb offerings and beautiful work!