I telephoned Hornby USA and, while they do not send to Canada if ordered on the internet, they agreed to send a set to me. I hope to be running them next week.
BB
I have been trying for over a year to get some 60’ Rivarosi heavyweight passenger cars in C&NW livery.
I ordered their first run from LHS but they did not come in. I also ordered (and paid for through Pay Pal) a set of three from a dealer on the net that claimed to have them. Even Pay Pal cannot get my money back.
This might be a longshot or possibly a waste of time, but did you try to contact Hornby directly? Their website is http://www.hornby.com/customer-support/. At the very top of the webpage to the right of the Hornby logo is a line that talks about setting up an account and something else that shows a shopping cart. This would imply to me that maybe they sell direct. But possibly this is only for distributors.
Anyway, there is also a place where you can send them an e-mail. If you tell them that you cannot find a retailer locally, maybe they can hook you up with someone (or even offer to sell to you directly).
I did purchase a set from this vendor and have had no compaints with the set at all. Quite detailed, interior finished, metal wheels. - the couplers are not KD and shoud be replaced with #5’s.
Yet another source for the Rivarossi 60’ coaches is the Walthers passenger train set. These sets are still found in hobby shops on the web as well.
Trust me on this, anything and everything comes up on Ebay sooner or later. I would make it a habit to check it out once or twice a week, and your cars will be there eventually. There have been many items over the years that were on my wish list that I acquired this way. Ha, and every December I sell 75 or 100 items on Ebay that others lusted for (not an advertisement, the Ebay sales season is over for me).
Attend model train shows that have vendors. The cars might possibly be there. Also model train swapmeets. It is surprising what sometimes shows up for sale.
The cars from the first run sold through Walthers are difficult to find because the run was extremely small (in fact, only a partial run).
While Hornby has advertised the new run of 60’ coaches in MR, I am unaware of anyone actually having been able to obtaining any…for which I lack any explanation.
As others have indicated, examples appear on eBay every once in a while, more so in the past then currently, so you need to keep a close watch. Note also that they tend to go for a fairly high price there. This sutuation is truly unfortunate, as the cars were very nice and fit a definite niche need in the hobby.
Note there are currently two sets of the Rivarossi 60’ coaches on e-bay as of today Jan 14/08, the sets are NYC and Santa Fe, the sets are the pullman green colour.
Outside of E Bay I would say check out some of the swapmeets and train shows that come through your area. Older merchandise sometimes shows up at these shows many times never having been removed from the box.
Try posting a wanted to buy ad on Hoyardsale@yahoogroups.com. No fee charged to you for posting…no fee to seller for listing and no finale value fee. I have had sucess buying, check it out