Swissboy,contact The Hobby Smith,he is on the web,premier n-scale shop in the northwest,right here in my home town,Portland Or. GOOD LUCK, UPTODAY
Here is one of the Lowell Smith offerings from the past (on the right) and one of my custom jobs on the left.
Hi Robert, Switzerland. Wow! I have met several SP&S fans from Australia and New Zealand, but never the Swiss land. I have been modeling the North Bank Road since the 80s and am amazed at all the new SP&S equipment offered. Not so much motive power. This is a true modelers road. When I joined the SP&S historical society there were only 3 N scalers in the bunch. Not much more now either. Back then I answered and ad for custom SP&S boxcar decals and have been good friends with Lowell Smith ever since. His products are the closest to prototype you will find if a bit spendy. I saw his sample of his latest RS3 release and it was very sharp. Get them while you can as they always sell out. Robert Ray kits are worth finding, but out of production. Check out the 24 foot GN laser cut caboose from American laser. SP&S had quite a few. Next year expecting a wood laser NP style bay window caboose too. The new Atlas caboose is strictly a foobie! Alcos are a real treat, but I think the draw to the SP&S will always be the Columbia River gorge. This is THE best place to railfan. Check out Max Magliaros SP&S steam builds on Railwire. Inspirational! John Moore has also custom built a lot of SP&S equipment posted here on TB. Build it and Post it! Rick
Ok here's what I own Atlas hart Ballast hopper(there are 5 more road numbers that I didn't take a picture of) some shells(a pair of old life likes and an atlas RS1) the LL shells are A unit #868(FA2) and B unit #213(FB2), I'm painting another set for #869 and #212 in the broadstripe scheme. The RS1 is #51 in the second tiger stripe scheme(maroon roof and yellow pinstripe) and the number is below the headlight hidden in the stripes. (I'm putting it as a link because the picture is huge) https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31/1075327_605178632869728_1188746441_o.jpg The lifelike C424's #302 and #305 while not prototypical these loco's do fill a niche in the road switcher department which I'm lacking units for The horns are incorrect and on the wrong side of the cab. I will be remedying this soon by replacing the factory horns with BLMA M3's which are the proper SP&S horns(my other FA set will also receive them... or the A will). (another link due to the huge picture) https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1498990_605179162869675_1795763461_o.jpg This is the MTL/Lowell smith repainted Walthers 10-6 sleeper that represents SP&S lounge sleeper Mt. Hood https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31/1606393_605179216203003_506560837_o.jpg This is the recently run IM 56 seat Passenger car in the SP&S Pinstripe scheme(based off of a CNW prototype), these cars represent #301-304(#305 is an incorrectly numbered car) rd #'s run 302-305. https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31/1040338_605179242869667_1233870434_o.jpg This is MTL/LS observation car repaint to match SP&S heavyweight business car #99, I'm not sure how close to proto it is but it wears the pinstripe scheme and has an SP&S drumhead on the rear railing of the platform. https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1602103_605179476202977_1598849401_o.jpg These are the 40' Cars run by MTL 11000 series, 12000 series, and 13000 series, they all look the same except for variations with the billboard lettering. https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1602103_605179476202977_1598849401_o.jpg These are the 50' DD box cars 2 made by atlas in the 14000 series roadnumbering, and the MTL car carries a 31000 series road number https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1504348_605179516202973_474988347_o.jpg here is the Atlas SP&S RS1(atlas product number 4410) in the as delivered scheme, minus the road number which should be below the headlights just like the Atlas shell. https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1553268_605179599536298_1031216358_o.jpg Here is another LS model of SP&S #750, this is the hourglass scheme that was released with a broadstripe one as the other choice(I'd have both but they were out of the Broadstripe one) this unit did wear a GN EB scheme variation with the SP&S lettering and herald at one point when it was handling EB cars. It's in the paint scheme standard to SP&S covered wagon diesels prior to 1964's broad stripe green repaint. https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1025315_605179642869627_922573495_o.jpg Last but not least the MTL run SP&S cabeese in the 700's, the far one is numbered 722, the near one is #724 both are somewhat close to SP&S models. https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t31/1490615_605179649536293_1399417689_o.jpg Upcoming releases that are using the SP&S roadname are some IM box cars, atlas offset cupola Cabeese, LS/atlas RS3's in tiger stripe colors, IM/LS F3A's #800 and #801.
Robert, where are you at in Switzerland? I spent a month in Interlaken back in 2012 (working with RUAG) and visited a rather nice layout in another small town nearby (just cannot remember the name of it). It was a model of the region complete with a funicular and was in a building near the local train station.
In my case, it also has somethin' to do with nostalgia, I guess. I lived in the state of Washington from 1968 to 73. Did not have much time, and even less money for going after railroads at the time. So I'm trying to catch up in a way. Trains along the Columbia River, what a sight, then and now!
John, I have no idea where that might have been. I live in Sempach near Lucerne, there is a lage RUAG facility at Emmen, which is about half way between Lucerne and where I live.
Thanks for taking the time to post these! The 40' cars picture did not make it, you have the previous one (#99) on there again. Personally, I'm mostly interested in the yellow and black paint scheme engines as your C424s. Those are the ones that were still around in the late sixties. Plus a variety of freight cars, of course. I don't think I ever had a chance to see SP&S passenger cars.
I believe the layout is in Wilderswil/ One of the RUAG guys from Interlaken is a member and invited me to a session. The layout is computer controlled and very impressive. If you ever make it down that way you should see it.
Robert, The Broadband paint scheme debuted in 1964 with the purchase of the first 424s. They used the same tanish yellow as the older hour glass scheme, but the green darkened from a brownish to very dark green, not black. These colors are available on the market and at the Hobbysmith here in Portland. Good luck with the modeling, Rick
You're welcome, the Black is a very dark pullman or olive green that LL used when they painted them though this effect was quite common on the 1:1 units as well. Yep the C424's were delivered in 1964, with the first couple bumping the SP&S VO1000's and S-2's #21 and #22. If you want to see more SP&S passenger cars I'd recommend checking out the Passenger car photo index as, that's where I remembered the info on the cars from. At some point in the past Microscale did run SP&S passenger decals, I wish they would again I'd love more SP&S decals. Here are the 40' boxes https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t31/1500903_605179522869639_129317777_o.jpg
Thanks Rick. I should have looked at my HO model more closely; of course it's very dark green. Thanks for pointing that out.
My Lowell Smith F7A from Intermountain is one of my favorite locos. It's tuned to run silent and smooth, and looks killer hauling my 4 Centralia SP&S coaches!
Did you see that lowells releasing F3A's #800 and #801? I can't wait, but once those are pre ordered I'm on the hunt for some NP pine tree scheme coaches to go with my new IM NP F3. and a frame for the F7B NP shell I have.
Talk to me- the F3's IM have made in pine tree don't match the coaches they released last year (blech color on the coaches, incorrect colors on the locos LOL). IM is (later this year) releasing NP Loewy-green F3's. The loewy cars should match the Loewy locos, though. They already match the FP7's and the F7B's perfectly. Hit me up for an IM chassis. I may have spares. Also I have NP locos for sale....
Ok, I sent you a message about 804 but it seems she's spoken for that's ok, are most of your units DCC equipped? I'll shoot you a PM in a bit.
Ok, it seems that the Atlas SP&S caboose must be out now. Nowhere close to any SP&S caboose I have seen pictures of, but then the tooling for this shell has been around for decades. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atlas-N-500...996350?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item35d132397e Maybe someday one of the guys that make Shapeways models can do one of the NP tall-cupola caboose that was also used by SP&S.
Ok, so where's my pair from N scale supply.... hmmmmm, I'm not seeing any charges, their page shows still taking reservations... hmmmmm, this is a bit confusing but I'll wait it out for a bit. a little bit of modifying to this caboose and you'll have this... or something close to it. (sorry about the huge Picture)
