Micro-Trains - NSC MTL 06-23 - Duluth South Shore & Atlantic - 0000

Model Information: This is Micro-Trains first body style. It was introduced in 1972. Its is a model of a Pullman-Standard PS-1 boxcar from circa 1957. Micro-Trains does not market it as a PS-1 so as to allow themselves some latitude so they can use this car to model non-PS prototypes. Hundreds of different releases have used this body style in various paint schemes and road names. They are equipped with 6' sliding doors, either Youngstown (4/5/4 rib pattern) or Superior (7 panels). It is not a model of a "modern" steel boxcar as the length (40 foot) and the roofwalk are more typical of the transition era (1939 - 1957).

In 2019, Micro-Trains started releasing this model with new body-mounted couplers attached to a new underframe.

Road Name History: The DSS&A dates to 1887 and was chartered to build from Duluth, Minnesota eastward across Michigan’s upper peninsula, through Marquette to Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace. Of course there were a number of connections in Duluth. Sault Ste. Marie had a connection to Canadian Pacific and St. Ignace had car ferry service across the Mackinac Straights to a few lines in Michigan’s lower peninsula. In 1888, Canadian Pacific bought control of the company.

Traffic was intended to be iron and copper ore, and forest products. Other lines building into the region took most of the ore traffic, leaving the DSS&A the forest products traffic. The DSS&A paid dividends to parent Canadian Pacific in just two narrow windows over the next 65 years.

As for passenger service, locals served the mining and logging communities along the line. The closest thing to a name train was the DSS&A operation of the Duluth to Calumet, Michigan end of Milwaukee Road’s Copper Country Limited. All passenger service ended in 1958, and DSS&A’s Budd RDC’s went to parent Canadian Pacific.

The most modern steam power was in the form of former New York Central Mikados. DSS&A started buying diesels in 1947 with Alco RS1’s for use as switchers plus units with steam generators to replace steam on the passenger runs. Later, they picked up Baldwin RT series center cab transfer diesels for road service (go figure.) They were down much of the time with cracks in the frame and engine block. So DSS&A went back to Baldwin for DRS series 6-axle hood units for road service. These were operated in long-hood-forward pairs. Although the RS1’s had been delivered in plain black with yellow zebra nose stripes and yellow initials, the Baldwins were delivered in a fancy yellow, green, and Chinese red. The RS1s were repainted in this scheme as they came due for shopping. Ultimately, they did begin lashing together 3-unit sets of RS1’s for road service as well.

On December 30, 1960, Canadian Pacific’s US holdings in the area were merged. This included the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic, the Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (popularly known as Soo Line), and the original Wisconsin Central. Ironically, it’s the DSS&A’s corporate charter that was the survivor of the merger but the name of the combined line became “Soo Line Railroad.”

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.

Please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide

Commissioner Information: Desiring to bring a creative and artistic approach to model railroad cars, Lowell Smith Signature Series was born in 1994. The first special run car commemorated the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the Golden Spike - "Wedding of the Rails". Since 1994, Lowell Smith Signature Series has continued to produce over one hundred and thirty-five unique cars or train locomotives to date.

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.
Following Lowell's passion of model trains, The Hobby Smith was built to be the community center for model railroaders - operators and collectors alike. Located in the Hollywood District of Portland, The Hobby Smith was the place to learn and to enjoy the camaraderie of others with the same passion.