Is there a market for Canadian Steam Engines?

[Anonymous]

With the rapid expansion of steam engines now available, is there a viable market Canadian Steam locomotives?

Though similiar to their American counterparts Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and subsideries had some distinguishable engines, which I feel would make worthy additions to the hobby. However, to support this endeavor the manfacturers would have to be guaranteed a supportive market for such an endeavor.

So ladies and gentlemen is there interest for Canadian Steam Engines such as the 2-10-4 Selkirk, 4-6-4 Royal Hudson, 4-8-2 CN "Bullet Nose Betty" and the 4-8-4 "6100" Confederation?

Fergie

[Anonymous]

I wuold probably get a Hudson for the heck of it, but since I model CP from the mid 70s to the mid 80s, I wouldn't be very interested in acquiring a whole fleet.

[Anonymous]

The Hudson and Royal Hudson made by MLW Montreal Locomotive Works will work well. These are available from Van Hobbies - a big Canadian dealer in brass, and also they are the ones that have the hudson done for them. Look in back of MR, I think they have a web site... they are here in Vancouver. Also a Consolidation is a good Canadian steam, also made by MLW.

When unique Canadian steam does come out, it is usually in Brass and is pricey, such as the Hudson's above. We just don't have a population base to drive a large market, However in N scale LL Canada which is seperate from LL in the States does come out with unique Canadian diesel offerings.

[AggroJones]

I'm not anti-Canadian steam, but I don't find them cool at all. For me, they don't really have attraction.

[dave9999]

What's the difference between a Royal Hudson 4-6-4 and an American Hudson 4-6-4? Dave

[Anonymous]

A Royal Hudson had really nice stream-lining, Dave. They were black with a stripe of white and maroon, and they had the royal shield on the front of the smoke box. Very beautiful[:D]! They were used to pull the royal train when, I think it was, the Queen came to visit. In my oppinion, they make the American stream-lined Hudsons look like toys.[;)]

[CP5170]

I would be very interested in having some CP steamers. The Selkirk (Texas type) was used for both passenger and freight services in the Rockies. I would be very interested in the D-10 series which were 4-6-0's. This was the backbone of the CPR freight fleet with 502 engines. I have one in brass but would like a few more. CP also had 498 Pacifics with both 70" and 75" drivers.

Hope the manufacturers are listening...Ken

[scole100]

I definitely would buy some if they were available.

[BR60103]

Correction to 4884bigboy:
It was during the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (The late Queen Mother) in, I think, 1939 that the King liked the trip so much that he allowed them to call the class "Royal".
There's a nice article on CP's semi-streamlined locos in a current special edition of Classic Trains.

[Anonymous]

Some of the Canadian Hudson's are Royal and some are not. Those made after a certain date and in a certain numberage where Royal, those before were not. For example, the 2860 that used to live in North Vancouver was a Royal Hudson, but not THE Royal Hudson (that was used to pull the king). The recently restored 2816 is a Hudson but not Royal.

[Anonymous]

As with everything else it comes down to a matter of economics. If XYZ manufacturer can reasonably expect to turn a profit on offering a line of Canadian locomotives you could expect to see them. If such locomotives were close detail varients of Baldwins. Alcos or Limas there is a good chance that such locomotives could be modeled by the addition of super detailing parts. Not knowing the economies of Canadian hobby railroading I can't make other than general comments.

Personally I would not be interested in such locomotives. Worthy as they may be, they don't fit my steam interests.

Randy

[Anonymous]

Some of the Canadian Hudson's are Royal and some are not. Those made after a certain date and in a certain numberage where Royal, those before were not.

Thank you rsn48

All told Canadian Pacific (CP) had 65 Hudsons, 45 of which were streamlined and designated Royal Hudsons[:D]

In my humble opinion CP locomotives were definately unique in appearance, even the non streamlined engines were "refined". A hybrid of North American brute force tempered with the clean lines of the the English steam engines.[8)]

[Anonymous]

A couple of years ago, the grocery store pre-Christmas series of "President's Choice" train sets had a CN Bullet Nose Betty locomotive. The sets sold pretty well.
These are still showing up at Cdn. train shows, albeit marked up substantially.
Point is...they were made by Mehano, who is the #1 locomotive supplier to IHC.
Perhaps if enough of you interested parties contacted IHC about such engines, they would consider a "run" of something ?
regards,
Mike.[:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BR60103

Correction to 4884bigboy:
It was during the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (The late Queen Mother) in, I think, 1939 that the King liked the trip so much that he allowed them to call the class "Royal".
There's a nice article on CP's semi-streamlined locos in a current special edition of Classic Trains.

Oh. Well, thanks for correcting me.[:)]

[Anonymous]

The majrity of my steam roster is from the President's Choice sets. A friend of mine actually talks to the guy at President's Choice that's in charge of putting out the trains sets and he told me that he was thinking of having a hudson for the next set. Unfortunately, there's no set being put out this year. Hopefully next year there will be.

Generally, when the manufacturers offer a steamer in CN or CP it's usually just an American type of engine with Canadian markings.

[cp1057]

Personally I'd love to see some Canadian Steam, if they could fit my budget. One feature of many Canadian National steamers that was fairly unique was the feedwater heater. It was a cylinder shape that was fitted width-wise across the top of the smokebox. These steam engines were known as "beetle-brows" A few US roads used them as well.

I have a President's Choice "Bullet Nose Betty" For the price it's a very good model. A few of the details are off but enough details are correct to make me happy. Even though it was sold with a string of cheapo freight cars it looks really good pulling a set of olive-green CN passenger cars. It's my numero-uno passenger loco.

I'm planning to eventually pick up a Bachmann Spectrum 10-wheeler and letter it myself for Canadian National. The model is supposed to be a generic Baldwin engine and I know CN used a few Baldwin engines on their branchlines in the fifties.

Hey, Fergie, are you from Fergus? I live in a small village 20 minutes from there.

Charles
Hillsburgh, Ontario

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cp1057

Hey, Fergie, are you from Fergus? I live in a small village 20 minutes from there.

Charles
Hillsburgh, Ontario

No, but I've been there. Actually from T.O. originally, moved to the Maritimes 22 years ago and loving it.

Have you read any of Ian Wilson's books on CN steam in Ontario? They're excellent!

Regards
Fergie

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FergusNo, but I've been there. Actually from T.O. originally, moved to the Maritimes 22 years ago and loving it.

What's not to love? Fergus is nice too though. [;)]

Dubya in NS