Join the discussion on the following article:
The Canadian HO scale train set by Rapido Trains
When is The Canadian going to be available?
I have the block set #1. The train is my showplace on the railroad. I run it 3 times per week. It runs flawlessly on 28" curves. I had to adjust/remove some details to prevent derailments which did not change the orignal appearence. I used the long couplers at the front end of each car. I left the original short coupler in place. I use the Digitrax system so consisting was simple. My layout is point to point and running west from Montreal the train is the original consist. The return is handled by 2 FM Trainmasters eastward. Not very prototypical but is practical. I completely agree that Rapido has done a great work of art in presenting a Canadian icon of passenger trains. Bravo! Leonard Stern, Home of the Montreal Belt Line.
Best passenger train ever made.
Don-
Rapido made six variations of the Canadian. All were built to order, and reservations closed in mid-2011. All of the sets that were ordered have been delivered. This was a rather important omission from the review.
There has not been any announcement of any future runs. However Rapido is re-running the two special-run dome cars from the set that VIA sells.
Given its price tag, I’m not aware of any hobby shops that ordered the Canadian set for stock, so the best bet probably is to look for it on the secondary market.
It’s a limited edition set, and all have been shipped. If you didn’t place an order, you will be out of luck. A few dealers may have a set in inventory, but 99% were reserved by preorder.
It has to be the best complete passenger train set ever offered. Right down to the tinting on the windows.
I have a couple of the Walthers passenger sets, the UP set and the GN Empire Builder Set.
There is just no comparision, both the coaches and the Rapido F units far outshine the Walthers E and F units.
I am especially impressed that the Rapido EMD units, have operating number boards, classification lights, headlights of course and in addition a strobe light.
The amount of interior finish on the coaches is second to none.
As the write up indicates, this is museum quality.
The Canadian is by far the best set ever produced. It took quite a while for the set to be finally released. So it gave me enough time to save up for all 3 different sets. The Canadian in the introductory livery, then the CP Red scheme and later the VIA paint scheme. Each set is has something special from the other. Even Brass does not come close to the detail these sets have. Jason and the staff at Rapido … Bravo, job well done.
I didn’t order one originally and I was truely sorry that I didn’t when I heard how great this set was. I then visited my LHS and saw a ‘action red’ one for sale. I snatched it up right away. A really excellent model.
I had to do minor tweeks so it could run on my home layout. The only other issue is the diner car’s lights burnt out and I’m contacting Rapido to resolve the issue. They have great customer service so I don’t anticipate this to be a problem.
Very fine article. I am considering building an early HO Canadian from Walthers rolling stock. I will have to locate a source for the locomotives.
I was able to acquire a Rapido Park Car in VIA colours January. VERY impressive. At $110.00 including tax, it wasn’t cheap, but if you ever have the opportunity to pick up a Rapido Budd car, do it. These are collector’s items. More recently, I’ve learned that Rapido is starting to release its Budd cars under a number of different road name. The second batch will include the CP and VIA paint schemes, I will be buying the rest of Rapido’s Canadian.