Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project

[NW Modeling List]

To all: 
     I can offer a small update on Spring Mills progress. They have received
test shots of the DODX flat car and have shown them at a recent show per
their 12/17/19 update on their web site. My understanding is they look good,
indicating decent capability on the part of the new manufacturer. This is a
significant step in moving forward on all projects as losing a trusted and
proven manufacturer is hard to recover from for a small volume company.
Don't underestimate the communications difficulties as well, I've been to
China twice and worked with vendors there and even with the backing of a
huge multinational it takes work and time to get results. I'm looking
forward to hearing production dates on the DODX project. 
    That's as much of an update as I can offer right now, but I would like
to "unburden" a bit on the subject of the caboose project as most of you
probably don't know much of the history. Steve Smith and I partnered to
approach Spring Mills Depot to try and get a correct N&W caboose built. They
were picked because their prior products have been spectacular, and they
have a business model that supports modest production quantities with lots
of product variance. They were receptive but set a high bar for technical
input that Steve and I exceeded by purchasing every applicable drawing from
NWHS and providing them to SMD, along with copies of the lovely Bowers
caboose book. (This, by the way, ensured that NWHS got a nice bit of
up-front money, there are lots of drawings!) SMD then agreed to the project
and the really hard work began. While Steve started a "spreadsheet from
hell" to document every physical variation on hundreds of cabooses (more
than what is scheduled for production) I wanted to ensure we could benefit
from the Bowers caboose slide collection to visually verify the details on
as many cabooses as possible. That wish, along with a pending retirement
desire to get involved in a meaningful way with NWHS led me to start
digitizing the Bowers collection. While I started with the cabooses, it felt
right and fair to complete the whole task so that's where the 38,212 slide
images that are online came from. Even with that many slides I think Steve
has probably put in as many if not more hours on the project. Field trips,
searching for elusive images, organizing all of the build details,
contacting all of the respective interest groups for the wayward cabooses
that left N&W for other roads, searching for accurate colors, and on and on.
Note that every caboose SMD is offering has had its physical attributes
verified by one or more images. Where we are now is we think (hope, pray) we
have a complete technical package for all the cabooses in the hands of SMD,
with the exception of final color selections where a bit of outside expert
help is being obtained. When they are able to move forward they have what
they need. 
    While that was long-winded, it's important to understand that thousands
of hours have gone into the caboose project. Neither Steve nor I are looking
for pats on the back, expressions of appreciation, or any of that, we are
doing it to satisfy our own desire to see the project happen. What we would
like, however, is a bit of patience. It seems companies like UTI can plan a
brass sleeper release, take their time, and not flood us with communication
and it is fine. And it is fine, I have my reservation in and will be excited
when the 10-6s show up. But every time SMD gets mentioned on this list there
are those who immediately chime in with complaints about the project. It is
getting old. If you want to support the project, advance order, and be
patient. If you don't want to support it, wait for product arrival and take
your chances on getting what you want. Or go buy brass. Or build laser kits.
But whatever you do, could you please stop complaining? It hurts to have put
so much into this only to see it blasted in print periodically. 

Best Regards,

Fred Boettner
Roanoke, Va.

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Today's Topics:

   1. Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project (NW Modeling List)
   2. RE: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project (NW Modeling List)
   3. Re: Rapido H16-44 Pre-Order Info (NW Modeling List)
   4. Re: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project (NW Modeling List)
   5. RE: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project (NW Modeling List)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2020 07:02:23 -0500
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project
Message-ID: <mailman.368.1583325243.5801.nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

To all:
Has anyone received an update from Spring Mills Depot and the disposition of
the N&W caboose project, especially in light of the manufacturing shutdowns
in China due to the virus?
thanks
v/r
Eric Raitch
Gainesville, Va



------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2020 08:39:53 -0500
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: RE: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project
Message-ID: <mailman.369.1583329779.5801.nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I had $2500 for the reserved cabooses and got tired of the wait and NO
UPDATES.
Communication to customers is extremely very POOR!
Even the current project, the DODX Heavy Duty Flat car has no updates even
though they have been to train shows and announced the free loads. 
I know that they are a small and have families, but there is no excuse.
Just my thoughts,
Stephen Rineair

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: NW Modeling List
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 7:34 AM
To: NW Modeling List
Subject: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project

To all:
Has anyone received an update from Spring Mills Depot and the disposition of
the N&W caboose project, especially in light of the manufacturing shutdowns
in China due to the virus?
thanks
v/r
Eric Raitch
Gainesville, Va

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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2020 10:10:31 -0500
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Re: Rapido H16-44 Pre-Order Info
Message-ID: <mailman.378.1583340440.5801.nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"; Format="flowed"

Is the Pevler Blue the "as delivered" scheme or were they delivered before
the Pevler Blue period?

Walter Davis, Youngsville, NC

On 3/3/2020 7:30 PM, NW Modeling List wrote:
>
> To all,
>
> ? Our society will offer a pre-order of the Rapido H16-44 ?locomotive 
> in HO scale. Obviously, our primary focus will be locomotives in the 
> Virginian and N&W (Pevler Blue) schemes. However, we will have access 
> to the other road names that will be available and you will have to 
> properly inform of us such when the? pre-order begins.? Please visit
> https://rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/ho-scale
> -f-m-h16-44 for the details and the road names that are being offered.
>
> ? We are currently working through a few details and a formal 
> announcement will be made this weekend. Fret not though, due to the 
> Corona Virus, ?a deadline has not been established as tooling for this 
> model has not yet begun. Society pricing will also be determined in 
> the days to come.
>
> ? Any questions regarding the specific details of this locomotive 
> shall be directed to Rapido. Please follow the link for such:
> https://rapidotrains.com/contact-us
>
> ? Thank you for your support of the N&W Historical Society.
>
> Regards,
>
> Todd Arnett
>
> President, NWHS
>
>
> ________________________________________
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org
> To change your subscription go to
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at 
> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2020 12:11:31 -0500
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Re: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project
Message-ID: <mailman.396.1583350105.5801.nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I have 5 caboose's reserved as far back as May 2014. My hope is they will
soon start producing the models or that Athearn will do the models.  Either
way it's been almost 6 years of waiting.
Larry Brown

On Wed, Mar 4, 2020, 9:26 AM NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> I had $2500 for the reserved cabooses and got tired of the wait and 
> *NO
> UPDATES.*
>
> Communication to customers is extremely very POOR!
>
> Even the current project, the DODX Heavy Duty Flat car has no updates 
> even though
>
> they have been to train shows and announced the free loads.
>
> I know that they are a small and have families, but there is no excuse.
>
> Just my thoughts,
>
> Stephen Rineair
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for 
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> *From: *NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
> *Sent: *Wednesday, March 4, 2020 7:34 AM
> *To: *NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
> *Subject: *Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project
>
>
>
> To all:
>
> Has anyone received an update from Spring Mills Depot and the
>
> disposition of the N&W caboose project,
>
> especially in light of the manufacturing shutdowns in China due to the
>
> virus?
>
> thanks
>
> v/r
>
> Eric Raitch
>
> Gainesville, Va
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
>
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org
>
> To change your subscription go to
>
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
>
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at
>
> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/
>
>
> ________________________________________
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org
> To change your subscription go to
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at 
> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/
>
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2020 09:33:08 -0500
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: RE: Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project
Message-ID: <mailman.397.1583350118.5801.nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I don't think it has anything to do with the virus. Its been over 3 or 4
years. They have my money also.Chris Wrenn?Roanoke, VaSent from my
U.S.Cellular? Smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: NW Modeling List
<nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> Date: 3/4/20  8:49 AM  (GMT-05:00) To: NW
Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> Subject: RE: Spring Mills Depot
and N&W Caboose project I had $2500 for the reserved cabooses and got tired
of the wait and NO UPDATES.Communication to customers is extremely very
POOR!Even the current project, the DODX Heavy Duty Flat car has no updates
even though they have been to train shows and announced the free loads. I
know that they are a small and have families, but there is no excuse.Just my
thoughts,Stephen Rineair?Sent from Mail for Windows 10?From: NW Modeling
ListSent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 7:34 AMTo: NW Modeling ListSubject:
Spring Mills Depot and N&W Caboose project?To all:Has anyone received an
update from Spring Mills Depot and the disposition of the N&W caboose
project,especially in light of the manufacturing shutdowns in China due to
the virus?thanksv/rEric RaitchGainesville, Va?_______________
_________________________NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.orgTo change your
subscription go
tohttp://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-modeling-listBrowse the
NW-Modeling-List archives
athttp://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/?
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