I thought I’d let you guys know about this as I’m sure some of the Canadian modelers might be interested. After a two-year hiatus, Canadian food company President’s Choice is releasing their 10th limited edition HO train set. For those not familiar with these sets, they are made by IHC and usually contain a very nice steam locomotive. They come out around this time of year. They are sold at Superstores in Western Canada and I believe Loblaw’s in Ontario and the East. For more on the previous sets, check out http://www.theweebsite.com/trains/pctrains.html .
A friend of mine who has corresponded with the president of President’s Choice let me know that this year they were producing a set again. I’m going to University in Regina right now and, while there is a Superstore here, I’m rather busy at the moment with homework and midterms and so told my folks at home pick a set up for me the next time they went into Yorkton. My Mom went in today to see if they had them yet. She was told that they weren’t allowed to put them out until Saturday, but they’d sell her one now. I just got off the phone with her. I’m heading home on Friday since it’s a long weekend, so I won’t actually see the set until then.
Now, the details on this year’s set. The whole set reatils for $100 Canadian (about $80 in American money). The engine is a beautiful model of CNR K5a Husdon #5702. Below is a real-life photo of a sister K5a husdon. You can’t really go wrong with that price for a nice model like that. I don’t think that IHC produces this engine otherwise, so this set might be the only place to get this model. I’ve always loved IHC’s steamers and been very impressed with them.
However, despite the great locomotive, the set really doesn’t have any other redeaming qualities. In the words of my mother, the rolling stock is “a joke”. It contains three reefers (in purple, gold and bright green), a blue hopper car and a blue and white c
One of the guys in our club sent us a message that one of the local Atlantic Superstores has them on display starting today. As mentioned, the engines in the past have been the only real good part of the set, being the IHC Premiere line with can motors, brass flywheels. etc. IHC had previous engines at around US$150.00 in the past. No where near the quality of Bachmann and Life Like steamers, but sturdy and decent runners. They are cosmetically upgraded to appear somwhat like Canadian prototypes with paint and lettering, but have been really a long way off from the protos.
I have the Pacific Express and the Camelback express, don’t run the cars, but I like the engines!
BTW, that is not a picture of a sister Hudson!
Matthew
Went into Atlantic Superstore this morning and was told they wouldn’t hit the shelves until Monday. Asked if they could hold one for me and was told “sorry, no”. as i was walking out the store one of the women who I asked caught up to me and said “I’ll get you one, just don’t tell anyone”.
I didn’t know what to expect but have to say apart from the wheel arrangement there is little if any similiarities. The 5700 class K5a Hudson had no elephant ears and had an enclosed cab. I could go on but won’t. Regardless It’s not a bad looking Engine and told Dad to enjoy playing with it as I gave it to him. I’ll probably land up making him a layout this winter. [:(]
This will however make a lot of Kids and Dads happy for Christmas and that’s what it’s all about.
I got to check out one of the sets the other day, and took a few photos of it in the store - see the photos here: http://tinyurl.com/b577b
I’m passing on it this year, doesn’t interest me at all. Now if they have some leftover after the holidays and clear them for $50 like I’ve seen in the past, I might be interested!
I purchased the president’s choice 10th edition also and was quite amased by it’s beauty but was also bewildered by the elephant ears, but being a stamp collector also brought my memory of a Canadian 1986 FDC which depics the K5a unit as having the elephant ears. Could they have been removed from the proto. I will be displaying the FDC with my K5a model.Anyone with more info on this please write me or leave a message.
Thanks for the heads up! A couple of days after you originaly posted this I have seen some yahoo listing one on ebay for about double the price for the starting offer on the six day auction. Sorry I can’t remember the exact listing number.
