Author Topic: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"  (Read 5786 times)

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nickelplate759

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Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« on: January 21, 2022, 04:30:42 PM »
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I got an e-mail from Lowell Smith announcing a new 12-4 sleeper car modelled after the UP "Western" series (also used by C&NW and Wabash), in both UP and Wabash paint.
https://lowellsmith.net/product/up-sleeper-fleet-1/
https://lowellsmith.net/product/wabash-sleeper-pair/
George
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Cajonpassfan

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2022, 05:14:07 PM »
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Well, this is bittersweet. I only need ONE Western sleeper and have no use for the modernized Sun version.
Anyone interested in a joint venture of sorts? If so, PM me please.
Or does Lowell sell these cars individually as well?
Thanks, Otto
« Last Edit: January 21, 2022, 05:16:00 PM by Cajonpassfan »

nickelplate759

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2022, 05:42:43 PM »
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He's selling 1, 2, or 3 UP Western sleepers.
If you only want one it's "Western Wonderland" https://lowellsmith.net/product/up-western-wonderland-sleeper/
George
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I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Cajonpassfan

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2022, 09:12:36 PM »
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Thanks, I just followed the link. Should have surfed the site a bit more. I just paid for the Western "pair". I may offer to sell one of them when they come out, not sure I need two.
A much needed model for my Utahn train.
Otto

nkalanaga

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2022, 01:54:16 AM »
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Did any of these run in Amtrak?  So far I haven't found any evidence that Amtrak bought them, nor did I see one in Pasco in the early years.
N Kalanaga
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Point353

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2022, 07:06:11 PM »
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Did any of these run in Amtrak?  So far I haven't found any evidence that Amtrak bought them, nor did I see one in Pasco in the early years.
https://utahrails.net/pass/named-lightweight-sleepers.php#sleeper-western-adventure
https://utahrails.net/pass/named-lightweight-sleepers.php#sleeper-sun-cape

nkalanaga

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2022, 02:35:32 AM »
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Thank you.  So, no, the "Western" cars were all renamed long before Amtrak, and I wouldn't have seen them.  So, no need to buy one.  Just as well, as my wallet is feeling a little abused right now!
N Kalanaga
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Nato

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2022, 01:09:47 PM »
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            No, UP Western Series cars were rebuilt into SUN  series and had a different interior configuration all bedroom. Wabash Western series cars were by this date painted blue and used on several Wabash/N&W Trains. Lowell's Sun named car is simply his Western Car renamed. A Sun car was all bedrooms with a different window arrangement. Nate Goodman. (Sato). Salt Lake, Utah.

thomasjmdavis

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2022, 12:14:05 PM »
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This is a bit off topic (but bear with me)- I am trying to do a bit of research on the Western and Blue (both the same 12-4 design) cars of Wabash.  Somewhere in my stash of magazines, I know there is an article about 12-4 sleepers (I remember reading it, but don't remember the source), but I haven't found the reference in any of the online indexes.  My best guess is that it is Mainline Modeler or Prototype Modeler, but could be something else.  Does anyone know what I am referring to and where I should be looking?

The Lowell Smith versions are a bit late in the game for me- I have 2 that are semi-complete M&R side versions.  But I may buy Blue Horizon anyway, as it would be nice to have one of Lowell's cars on the roster.  I can see the "Western" series as having potential for filling out Kato "City of..." trains, so I hope it is successful for him and encourages production of more sleeper configurations.
Tom D.

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Point353

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2022, 07:37:25 PM »
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This is a bit off topic (but bear with me)- I am trying to do a bit of research on the Western and Blue (both the same 12-4 design) cars of Wabash.  Somewhere in my stash of magazines, I know there is an article about 12-4 sleepers (I remember reading it, but don't remember the source), but I haven't found the reference in any of the online indexes.  My best guess is that it is Mainline Modeler or Prototype Modeler, but could be something else.  Does anyone know what I am referring to and where I should be looking?
"Western Series Passenger Cars" by Thorton Waite, The Streamliner, Volume 7, Number 2, pages 17-31
"Western Series Update", The Streamliner, Volume 7, Number 4, pages 35-36
Railroad Model Craftsman, March 1968, pages 42-43
« Last Edit: January 25, 2022, 07:40:35 PM by Point353 »

sirenwerks

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2022, 07:57:02 PM »
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            No, UP Western Series cars were rebuilt into SUN  series and had a different interior configuration all bedroom. Wabash Western series cars were by this date painted blue and used on several Wabash/N&W Trains. Lowell's Sun named car is simply his Western Car renamed. A Sun car was all bedrooms with a different window arrangement. Nate Goodman. (Sato). Salt Lake, Utah.


So buying a Sun car from LS for an early Amtrak train would be a foobie, is what you're saying?  Is it a matter of plating over windows or was there significant change?  I want to assemble an early Amtrak train and could live with an interior being off, but if the window arrangement is wrong I'll have to consider just how much off it is.
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Sokramiketes

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2022, 01:38:26 PM »
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So buying a Sun car from LS for an early Amtrak train would be a foobie, is what you're saying?  Is it a matter of plating over windows or was there significant change?  I want to assemble an early Amtrak train and could live with an interior being off, but if the window arrangement is wrong I'll have to consider just how much off it is.

I'm not sure this is correct.  Here's Sun Isle, to Auto Train, which still has the window arrangement of a 12-4 sleeper on one side.

https://www.themetrains.com/auto-train-consist-1602-sleeper.htm

Nate, are you thinking of the 11 Bedroom "Placid" series cars?  Those definitely have a unique window arrangement.  But I'm not sure the rebuilt 12-4's looked like that. 

Sokramiketes

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2022, 01:40:06 PM »
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Lowell's renderings don't show the other side, so here's a basic reference on the window arrangement of a 12-4 from Brass Car Sides.  This is what still matches the 1970's era auto train image...

https://www.walthers.com/union-pacific-chicago-north-western-passenger-car-sides-only-etched-brass-acf-12-4-sleeper-up-cnw-western-series-wabash-blue-series-unpainted

luvmrca

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2022, 12:57:30 AM »
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I don't think you can tell from your photo of Sun Isle, Mike, whether Lowell's model will be accurate for the Sun series.  Your photo seems to show the aisle side of the car, which from the car diagrams in the Thornton Waite article in The Streamliner Vol. 7 #2, seems to be the same for the 12 Rmtte-4 Bdrm Western series and the 11 Bdrm Sun series.  The other side of the 12-4 (as per your brass sides) had 6 large windows for 6 roomettes and 5 smaller windows for 4 bedrooms and a Porter's seat (window closest to the door).  The corridor side of the 12-4 had 6 large windows for 6 roomettes across the aisle from the other 6 roomettes and then two corridor windows and a small window for the toilet near the door.  In the Sun series diagram in the Waite article, all the bedrooms are on the non-corridor side.  The five smaller windows for the 4 bedrooms and the Porter's seat remain the same, and there are 7 large windows for 7 bedrooms. The now corridor side appears to have kept the 6 large windows.  The image of the Sun car on Lowell's site does not appear to have added the 7th window.  I do not have The Streamliner Vol. 7 #4, which from an above post had an update.  Andy Love, Calgary, Alberta

Sokramiketes

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Re: Lowell Smith 12-4 sleeper "Western"
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2022, 08:22:10 AM »
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I don't think you can tell from your photo of Sun Isle, Mike, whether Lowell's model will be accurate for the Sun series.  Your photo seems to show the aisle side of the car, which from the car diagrams in the Thornton Waite article in The Streamliner Vol. 7 #2, seems to be the same for the 12 Rmtte-4 Bdrm Western series and the 11 Bdrm Sun series.  The other side of the 12-4 (as per your brass sides) had 6 large windows for 6 roomettes and 5 smaller windows for 4 bedrooms and a Porter's seat (window closest to the door).  The corridor side of the 12-4 had 6 large windows for 6 roomettes across the aisle from the other 6 roomettes and then two corridor windows and a small window for the toilet near the door.  In the Sun series diagram in the Waite article, all the bedrooms are on the non-corridor side.  The five smaller windows for the 4 bedrooms and the Porter's seat remain the same, and there are 7 large windows for 7 bedrooms. The now corridor side appears to have kept the 6 large windows.  The image of the Sun car on Lowell's site does not appear to have added the 7th window.  I do not have The Streamliner Vol. 7 #4, which from an above post had an update.  Andy Love, Calgary, Alberta

That helps, Andy.  Thanks.  Of all the Sun sleeper photos on the net, I ran across 8 of the aisle side and none of the opposite.