I have been trying to locate a FPA and B in either Canadian Pacific maroon livery or a Canadian National set in yellow, green and black. I only wanted the passenger versions. There have been a number of CN sets but they were only available in the freight versions and the CP version was almost impossible to find.
I thought I would have to wait for the Rapido sets due some time next year.
I finally lucked out and found and bought a FP7 A/B set made by Intermountain Railway Co. It was the sound version but I like the QSI sound decoder so that was no problem.
This past Friday I ran in the set and I am very impressed with this engine. IMHO the Intermountain beats both the Genesis and Stewart models in running characteristics and pulling power.
I thought the Stewart had good pulling characteristics but the Intermountain beats it hands down. I was running through the 3% incline portion of the layout without any hesitation at all. I thought I might have to reduce the incline for the engines to handle the passenger consist but I do not have to worry now that I have the Intermountain set.
Very few of the hobby/train shops I have visited carry the Intermountain locomotives, what a shame. I would assume the reason being the distributors.
I had tried to acquire a CN in the correct passenger version but all I ended up with was an Athearn Genesis and a Stewart both sets in the freight colours.
The EMD sets in CN livery made by Walthers in their Proto 2000 are also freight versions.
Intermountain does make the FP units in the 1950s CN green/black//yellow passenger scheme. They are available in HO and N scale. I have a CN A-B-A set in N scale.
Wow, I just checked my favorite on line vendor, MB Klien, and they had a FP9A/B set in the correct passenger colours available, Of course I bought a set, went all out and got the sound version.
I would expect it will be as great an engine as the Intermountain FP7 set.