I’m modeling the 1970’s and would like to run a CN or possibly a CP passneger train but am unsure of the type (Harriman or Pullman) and whats available (Walthers/ Atherns/Model Power). Also engine types and paint schemes. Since I share my layout with my 6 year old son I’m not looking for anything finely detailed! - Thanks
For a 1970’s CNR or CPR passenger train I recommend the following
They have a supply of passenger cars in 1970’s CNR and of course they will soon be releasing the CPR Canadian Passenger train as a full set.
There is currently a posting dealing with that release
As much as the Rapido cars Don refers to are very nice, I would not recommended them for a 6 year old! Been there, done that.
CP in the 50’s was running a couple of different types of passenger trains. Stainless Steel for the flag ship name train Canadian and older heavyweights/smooth sides on the less glamorous trains. If you are not too worried about being bang-on accurate, I have found that the Con-Cor cars are a reasonable substitute for the SS, and Rivarossi for the older equipment.
In general, getting CN or CP accurate passenger cars can only be done with higher end products, like the Rapido cars. The joys of modeling “obscure” “foreign” railways!
Good luck and good for you in bringing your son into this hobby!
Congrats on getting your son involved.
I’ve had my son involved since he was 2. He’ll be 6 in October.
For the most part, he’s been pretty good about handling the trains, only using mine when I’m in the room. I’ve gone as far to get him his own trains to use.
I would look at the latest Athearn offering. They had the “stainless” cars last time around & were not detailed much if at all.
if not the Athearn ones, IHC cars, if you can find them would be great for him.
Gordon
I stand corrected, missed the reference of the six year old, having said that I agree the Rapido cars are not appropriate.
I agree with the choice of the Athearn silver streamlined cars with CPR markings. These cars appear on e-bay every so often and can also be found in some of the on-line Hobby Shops.
Con-cor makes a Budd streamlined dome-observation car pretty close to the CP ones from the fifties (which lasted in service into this century). It’s one car that’s sort of a “signature car” for the Canadian, but isn’t widely offered in model form. The Con-cor cars are available in original CP maroon, c.1970 CP Rail red, and 1980-90’s VIA blue. CN and CP both ran passenger trains until about 1976 before VIA took over passenger trains in Canada, so both railroads could be represented on a 1970’s layout.
Quick addendum to wjstix’s comment above.
VIA was created in 1976 as a division of CN, and spun off into a separate crown corporation in 1977. Canadian Pacific operated their own passenger trains up to 1979 when they also transferred all passenger operations to the crown corporation.
It is called a “Park” car.
The CPR uses Tuscan Red, not Maroon.
The ConCor HO version of this car has many flaws, including a major one that cannot be fixed (the roof height is 6" too low).
The N scale version’s roof height is correct.
David B
I model CN and VIA and have several passenger car manufacturers in my stock. The Rapido cars are very nice but pricey. I have a few of these cars and I cannot believe one of them wobbles. I will figure out why sooner or later but I won’t let that prevent me from buying more in the future. (I already have a couple future releases on pre-order) I don’t have any of the CN 1950s green and gold scheme but the 1961 black and gray scheme cars are quite nice. The blue/yellow VIA scheme is above board as well.
There is a difference between the old and the new Con-Cor passenger cars. I have many of the older 1950s CN green and gold cars and the detailing is only adequate. The herald is blurry upon close up. The newer cars look better. And they have either MT couplers ($$) or the Con-Cor rigid face brand couplers ($) instead of Rapido couplers. The VIA Rail Budd/corrugated cars in silver and blue are very nice.
Model Power brand passenger cars are cheap and they look it. I have a couple MP passenger cars in circus scheme, none in CN/CP schemes because they just don’t look right.
Years ago Kato came out with three Canadian Pacific corrugated passenger car sets; 106-1501, 106-1601, and 106-1602. They are beautiful. Are they correct? I don’t care, they’re beautiful, that’s why I bought them. I don’t think I have ever taken them out of the box let alone run them.
The Walthers 10-6 sleeper is nice and it gives you a decal sheet to render various numbered/named cars. I wish more manufacturers would do this.
Arnold/Rivarossi had some CN heavyweights, too. I have a three pack of these, nice, but I have moved away from HWs and now try to model modern style passenger equipment. The Kato Genesis P42s are some of the best N scale locos on the market and a livery of HWs being pulled by a P42 doesn’t look correct to me.
Wheels