mecu18b
Full Member
My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more.
Posts: 146
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Post by mecu18b on Mar 18, 2019 4:51:59 GMT -8
From the face book page of Northwest Shortline....."This is the post I don’t want to make but the time has come. I just can’t do this without Lynda. Following is the notice I sent to all the magazines.
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After 60 years in business, NWSL will cease operations effective August 30th, 2019. The company will continue to take orders for in-stock products until July 1st, 2019. Closure is for personal reasons and sale of the business is not anticipated, although reasonable proposals will be considered."
Sad times my friends....
Ted
COO Norfolk Terminal
Modern Narrow Gauge
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Post by bdhicks on Mar 18, 2019 6:31:05 GMT -8
I had been thinking doing some oddball motive power using 3d printing to make power trucks and frames with non-standard spacings, but without someone like NWSL to provide wheels, gears, and universals that's going to be tricky.
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Post by riogrande on Mar 18, 2019 6:41:06 GMT -8
Brian, for at least the near-term (between now and August) it looks like you can still get NWSL items. Beyond that, it probably depends on a buyer to take over the product line.
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Post by slowfreight on Mar 18, 2019 7:15:48 GMT -8
Sad but understandable. I used their wheelsets, and couldn't model without the Chopper and Dupli-Cutter. With luck, someone will want to pick up the tooling and inventory.
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Post by Paul Cutler III on Mar 18, 2019 7:56:28 GMT -8
Oof. This is not good. I have a lot of their product in my engines and on my workbench.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2019 8:00:16 GMT -8
Oh, boy, there are folks like David Long, a former NWSL employee, who make their living regearing brass models with the NWSL parts, and also pro painting. This will be a loss for all those folks who play with the older brass steamers and would have needed the replacement gears, etc. that NWSL has so faithfully provided all these years...
At one time Samhongsa made entire drive trains available to regear old articulateds, but those were few and impossible to find now...likely all have been used up already. There were the only comparable items to some of what NWSL sells. |
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Post by csx3305 on Mar 18, 2019 9:09:39 GMT -8
Perhaps I am the only one that remembers it, but this threat was already put forth once before, back around summer 2008 if memory serves.
I don’t expect people like me will be affected too harshly by this, I really like the Chopper 2 but my Riveter Plus/ arbor press was pretty much an expensive paperweight until I bought the Micro Mark kit that converts it into a tapping fixture.
The can motors were a useful line but I’m not sure if those are even available anymore or if they are any better than a Proto Power West kit. NWSL seems to be mostly the domain of narrow gaugers and the folks who like to scratchbuild small oddball industrial critters and the like. Can’t imagine that’s a sufficiently large market right now.
And then some of their ideas like the Riveter are good ideas, but clumsily executed.
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Post by GP40P-2 on Mar 18, 2019 9:21:29 GMT -8
Didn't they already change hands once, about 10 years ago?
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Post by riogrande on Mar 18, 2019 9:23:49 GMT -8
Doh, I actually do have a NWSL product - their True Sander.
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Post by csx3305 on Mar 18, 2019 9:32:42 GMT -8
Didn't they already change hands once, about 10 years ago? Hmmmmm. Could be. I remember several companies having issues there within about a four year span. First Gordon Cannon died, Dave Hussey bailed us all out on that, then in 2008, it was NWSL, Smokey Valley, and Evergreen Styrene that all made announcements about things looking uncertain. Overland stopped selling detail parts around that time as well. Then Tenax became hard to get a year or two after that. Then Micro Engineering turnouts. It was maddening. |
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Mar 18, 2019 9:44:13 GMT -8
Wow. Time to do an inventory of my On30 Bachmann steamers that'll need gears sooner or later, and do an order.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Mar 18, 2019 9:53:34 GMT -8
Didn't they already change hands once, about 10 years ago? Somethin' like that. I think Oso Rail was a loco builder/rebuilder that bought out the originator of NWSL, some time ago. Don't recall when. Ed |
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Post by 12bridge on Mar 18, 2019 9:59:31 GMT -8
Sad to see this is how it happened...
...But really, how many people are repowering engines like they were 20 years ago? I know there is still a market with the Brass crowd and all, but is there? This is a -really- labor intensive catalog of items to produce, for not all that much return.
Maybe we will see another 11th hour save like what happened with Grandt Line, but I am not counting on it. Or maybe somebody will pick the line up and seriously thin it out.
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Post by bdhicks on Mar 18, 2019 10:12:01 GMT -8
Yeah, to the extent that I know what I'd need I can still order, but for the most part I haven't done any specific planning work yet.
A lot of this stuff, not only is there not really a good alternate source, but I'm guessing it'll be difficult for someone else to take over the product line, since so much of it is machined rather than injection molded (and for drivetrain components I don't think 3D printing will ever quite cut it)
Anyway, if you don't already own a chopper and a true sander, better pick one up soon.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Mar 18, 2019 10:58:43 GMT -8
I've had a re-motor for a narrow-gage 2-8-0 on the back burner. The motor filled the cab and projected out the back. I've already picked up a teeny tiny little fella. THIS prompted me to order shaft reducers and bearings from NWSL. Today.
Drives, today, are mostly perfection, on DCC anyway. So working on them, for me, ain't usually a necessity, unless it's something old. Like this one. Or it's just for fun, like making the "ultimate" switcher drive.
Ed
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Post by thunderhawk on Mar 18, 2019 11:48:44 GMT -8
Didn't they already change hands once, about 10 years ago? Yes. And moved from Seattle to Hamilton MT. Looking for a new source for 40" nickel silver half axle wheelsets. |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Mar 18, 2019 14:10:09 GMT -8
I heard the owner recently lost his wife.
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Post by es80ac on Mar 18, 2019 18:39:03 GMT -8
Very sad, first Reboxx, now NWSL. It is also surprise to see NWSL not being taken over by a new owner.
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Post by es80ac on Mar 18, 2019 19:51:26 GMT -8
Seeing this post makes me want to go out and buy some NWSL stuff while they are still available. Anyone know the part number for the NWSL replacement gears for the recent Overland brass diesel engines? thanks
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Post by valenciajim on Mar 18, 2019 21:20:16 GMT -8
This is exceptionally sad information. I have a number of locomotives that I hope to get to this fall when things quiet down and I was planning on ordering numerous parts from NWSL.
I understand the owner's plight though. He indicated that the business is not for sale, he is just shutting down. I hope someone is able to acquire the business and keep it going.
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Mar 19, 2019 2:18:37 GMT -8
I always find it strange when companies just close up rather than try to find a buyer, though one must have very specialized skills to be able to make the gears that NWSL sells.
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Post by valenciajim on Mar 19, 2019 7:09:39 GMT -8
Finding a buyer can be a lot of work--particularly for someone who is overwhelmed by the loss of a spouse and/or is getting along in years. Hopefully someone in the industry will be interested in acquiring the company and will step forward.
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Post by bdhicks on Mar 19, 2019 7:19:41 GMT -8
I think he's just not going to go actively looking for buyers, but would accept a good deal if someone offers. As I recall is the same as Grandt Line did.
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Post by lvrr325 on Mar 19, 2019 9:54:50 GMT -8
Maybe a buyer should find him, instead of everyone complaining.
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Post by pboilermaker on Mar 29, 2019 18:58:00 GMT -8
This thread makes me appreciate my wife even more.
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DHTR
Junior Member
Posts: 83
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Post by DHTR on Mar 29, 2019 23:00:52 GMT -8
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Post by sd40dash2 on Aug 8, 2019 5:09:55 GMT -8
Latest from the NWSL website:
"NorthWest Short Line will be closing its doors August 30th, 2019. We will not accept any new orders after July 1st; we need the remaining 8 weeks to fill back orders. We hope that someone might pick up the line and continue, but to date that has not happened and so the shutdown schedule remains. Our sincere thanks to all our supporters and customers over the last 60 years!"
www.nwsl.com/
Hope you all managed to receive your final orders. I love my Chopper II and spare cutting mat. Nice consistent cuts for strip styrene. |
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Post by valenciajim on Aug 11, 2019 19:59:52 GMT -8
Latest from the NWSL website:
"NorthWest Short Line will be closing its doors August 30th, 2019. We will not accept any new orders after July 1st; we need the remaining 8 weeks to fill back orders. We hope that someone might pick up the line and continue, but to date that has not happened and so the shutdown schedule remains. Our sincere thanks to all our supporters and customers over the last 60 years!"
www.nwsl.com/
Hope you all managed to receive your final orders. I love my Chopper II and spare cutting mat. Nice consistent cuts for strip styrene. I for one messed up. I was going to place an order, but did not realize that the deadline for ordering was July 1st. Hopefully someone will take over the business. |
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Post by carrman on Aug 19, 2019 12:55:34 GMT -8
NorthWest Short Line Press Release
For Immediate Release (August 19, 2019)
NorthWest Short Line is pleased to announce that the entire line has been acquired by an NWSL employee, effective September 3rd, 2019. All existing back orders will be filled, and NWSL will be open to new orders as soon as the new websites are rolled out; the primary website nwsl.com will carry forward as the primary contact point. The line is expected to carry forward largely unchanged although the company will no longer offer phone support. NWSL will be headquartered in Kila, Montana, located near Kalispell, and the new address is PO Box 219, Kila, MT 59920. Email contact is through the website.
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Aug 19, 2019 13:03:34 GMT -8
HYUGE SIGH OF RELIEF!!! Thank goodness!
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