A Correction

A few weeks ago, I was contacted about my drawing of 768 at Sheridan Elms. As it turns out, 768 was not the stripless car, but it was 763, the next to last Silverliner. The Story goes that 763 was trialled without the stripes as a cost-cutting measure when it was first outshopped on March 20th, 1958. The general opinion was that the car looked unfinished, so it went back into the paintshop in early May, and on May 13th, it rolled out of Highwood a full Silverliner.

Sorry for any confusion.
Zach

The Oddball

In the name of historical accuracy, CNS&M 768 has lost its stripes.

Earlier this week, when I first posted this drawing, a discussion arose on the Yahoo group for the CNS&M. The question was posed, "What else did the Lake Forest Man notice about the rear car?" Well it turns out that When the North Shore redid 768 as a Silverliner, they decided to cut the shadow striping from the side in an effort to save money. The result is above. It just doesn't look right, and needless to say, it was taken back to Highwood for finishing soon after.

Until next time,
Zach

A Saturday Morning Drive

On Saturday, June 28^th 1958, a local Lake Forest man is out for a morning drive in his 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air. As he drives west on Old Elm Road, he approaches the right of way of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. Suddenly, the wig wag signal guarding Old Elm Road swings into action and an air horn can be heard in the distance. As the man stops a blur of silver and red bursts out from behind the Sheridan Elms station, and charges past. The man takes note of a particularly clean car on the end of the train as it disappears into a trail of dust. The wig wag stops swinging, and the man continues on his drive into the quietness of Saturday morning.

The man saw car 768, built by Standard Car Company in 1930. It was rebuilt as a Silverliner by  the CNS&M’s Highwood Shops and released into traffic the previous Tuesday, June 24^th 1958. It would be the final of 31 cars rebuilt as Silverliners by the North Shore in the 1950’s. Also in the train is car 750, rebuilt as a Silverliner in December 1952 and looking a little worse for wear. It would be repainted in 1959.

Until Next Time,

Zach

L Cars For Sale

Is your streetcar or elevated car getting tired and worn out? Do you need a new rapid transit car? Then come down to the Used L Car Lot, for all your L car needs!  Come trade your worn out car for one of our fine selection of CTA 4000 series cars fresh off the Evanston Express! We have plenty of L cars, so many we don't know what to do with them! Prices are cheap, and they're going fast! Get yours today!









This is a concept I'm throwing around to possibly do as a comic, to get back into the swing of art again, seeing as I haven't done anything art wise in about a week. I'll see what I can do with it.

For the record, this is based on a very true story from the earlier days of the Illinois Railway Museum. If any one there has a problem with this, I'll take it down.

Until Next Time,
Zach

Commissions

After much deliberation, I have decided to begin accepting commissions. All my art is drawn in opencanvas with a tablet. I will draw any railroad/railway subject, but I specialize in traction/trams/trolleys.

Pricing is as follows:

Sketch: $5
Lineart: $8
Add a background: $3
Add color: $4

I accept paypal. Please send all commissions to: nsl714@yahoo.com

Thanks!
Zach

LET THERE BE SNOW!

Something inside of me said, "draw some snow today", so I did.

Climb the Mountain

Recently I've been doing some art for colleagues of mine, who are creating a website of sorts. Basically it encompasses an extended cannon of the Railway Series, the 42 strong series of books which was the orgin of Thomas the Tank Engine, a TV show which many of you may have watched at one point or another. My work has been in creating some of the art for profiles of all the characters. Here are 2 such characters, which I just completed, of the Culdee Fell Mountain Railway Engines #4 Culdee and #6 Patrick.

And the website in question. Bear in mind it is still under construction: http://www.sodor-island.net/ersdatabase/index.html

Till next time,
Zach