Any CN / Grand Trunk modelers out there ????

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for anyone modeling CN / GT lines from the 80's to the present. Without scratchbuilding practically everything, where can I find good loco's. & rolling stock ( especially Grand Trunk loco's ) that can run on an average layout ??? Any info would help,
Mark

[ShaunCN]

I model Canadian National too. From the 1970-present day period. I have been unable to find any GT locomotives. Keep looking and you may find something. Also do you know what locomotive is better an SD40-2 or a GP38. I want to get one in the zebra paint scheme. try this http://gtw.railfan.net/Modeling/engines.htm

ShaunCN

[rambo1]

I also try to purchase any locos in C.N paint or G.T .I purchase them from Georgestrains or Credit Valley Railway in the Toronto Ontario area. They can send anywhere in the world for you. The websites are www.georgestrains.com and www.cvrco.com Enjoy them rambo1.........

[Anonymous]

Well, CN isn't that hard, as long as you want the latest and greatest (Dash-9's and SD75's), unfortunately CN's buying practices have been unusual, buying widecabs from 1973 on, and cowled units through the 80's, espcially considering their predeliction for MLW/Bombardier units. A CN roster for a small layout for recent locos should be mostly GP40-2W's, M420W's, GP38's (most common narrow cab), GP40's and GP9m's. APart from the GP40 and GP38, these aren't easy finds, and will require either resin kits (M420W) or kitashing (other widecabs, GP9m's). Even the GP38 and GP40's require detail work to look correct (the cab roofline extensions on the long hood).

ShaunCN: As to the GP38/SD40-2, buy the GP38 if you want Sgt. Stripes, as the SD40-2's are incorrect for CN units (CN's SD40-2 buy was all SD40-2W's, and the ones they have bought recently secondhand aren't usually seen in stripes). The Atlas GP38/GP40 are nice units, I'll probably pick up a couple myself.

Most GTW engines these days are sublettered for GTW, but wear either CN or KCS colours.

Rolling stock is pretty easy, just about everybody makes stuff for CN or GTW which is decent. Just avoid the older 40' bits in favour of longer modern stuff. The Branchline Berwicks are particularily nice.

[Anonymous]

A good place to get CN items if your a decently skilled modeler (Resin Kits are not for the faint of heart LOL) is...

www.kaslpshops.com

I have 5 of their SD60F kits and they are beautiful models...and with a little work you can mount them quite well on a P2K SD60 Chassies. The kits come with mounting instructions for the Athearn SD40T-2 chassie but thats not the correct wheelbase. They will be coming out with a FULL Dash8-40CM kit soon as well....complete with the correct Dofasco trucks frame length (remember the 8-40CM was the only GE unit ever to ride on a 71 foot frame) and a motor. They also offer correct cab kits for the SD40-2s ( as mykroft said) every CN sd40-2 you end up with is incorrect unless it was a used unit as all of CNs origional order was Safety Cabs. The only thing i have to disagree with mykroft on is....well it depends on which dash9 "Class" you want to model. Technically any CN dash 9 you buy stock will be incorrect. Class EF644a Had a special 4 window widecab (not the same as the GM cab tho...stubbier nose)...but Kaslo shops offers kits for this. Class EF644b and beyond has a 2 window cab but with GM style windows. Kaslo also offers kits for this cab.

Basically i think what mykroft and i are both trying to say is modeling CN correctly is a challenge...but its FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the fact that they still are innovative and different in their locomotives. But if you know where to look you can get the aftermarket parts and kits to do them right.

oh...and as for detail parts... try

http://www.traintown-canada.com/canadian_manufacturers.htm

and then scroll down to Mineatures by Eric. They are decently priced and even tho it says they may not be in stock...every time i order something its always here in 3 to 5 days!!!

Good luck and happy CNing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I am in a club that models cn gtw in 1950 we don't run 1950 equipment execpt for railroad days. We are located in Durand Michigan.

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: www.kaslpshops.com

That should be http://www.kasloshops.com

As for CN's innovation, that's basically history. They haven't ordered anything drastically different from the builders' catalogues since their first order of C44-9's in the mid-90's, which had the same 4-window cab seen on the C40-8M's.

New CN locomotives now differ from their US cousins mainly in horns, bells, headlight placement, and other minor options, making it simpler to model CN than it was when every road unit had a 4-window safety cab or a cowl carbody. Still, you'll need a few such units in a modern CN roster, both on the road and in the yards. CN have some standard-cab SD40-2s, mainly ex-UP/MoP. One of those would be right at home, along with GTW or DWP SD40-2s.

You can start a good modern CN fleet with:

Standard-cab SD40-2's in CN paint with CN, DWP or GTW reporting marks

SD70Is and C44-9s as made by Athearn

Standard-cab GP38-2s and chopnosed GP9's in yard service

Then start building the more uniquely-CN stuff using the great cabs and shell kits now available.

For a pre-1998 fleet you'd need to add some MLW products, such as the shunters released lately by Life-Like or the M420 from Kaslo shops.

[Anonymous]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.....Thanks for the Spellcheck BentNose....im still trying to get used to this new laptops keyboard LOL

[METRO]

I model the greater Toronto metro, and as such there are quite a few CN trains on my layout. I have always found the Walthers site www.walthers.com to be a great place for getting reasonably priced equipment, try Athearn and other large production run companies. I do paint a lot of my equipment myself, and if you are willing to invest in an airbrush it's nowhere near as hard as it looks to get a great looking paint job, especially with the CN/GT paint jobs.
Take care it's always great to hear of someone else intrested in Canadian roads

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the delay, but thanks for all the great info ....... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully I'll get some good looking equipment now !

Thanks again, Mark

[Wdlgln005]

The supply of CN/GT equipment depends on the scale. You have to watch the ads in MR & other mags, then run down to the LHS to be sure they will carry it. This shoould be a lot easier with internet shopping. Sometimes you will find equipment lettered for the wrong road in the family, that's when a new decal set comes in. Or get very good in using an airbrush if you prefer the older green scheme.

[Martin4]

Hi

I model the CN (along with ATSF, WM and UP) and looking up for the real thing is easy since I live a few minutes away from the Joffre Yard (in Charny, City of Lévis) near Québec City. Be aware that despite the wide choice of CN / GTW stuff, most of the available models are not accurate. CN has generally been apart from others in its choice of cabs and carbodies. The only correct models I have on my roster are Genesis SD75is. Athearn and Kato C44-9Ws look good (and run great) but don't have the right cab and windshield that should be similar to the SD75 ones. Atlas GP40 is correct, with appropriate details but most of the geeps on the CN had wide cabs. Proto 2000 low hood GP18s closely match the GP9 yard units apart from the radiator grilles pattern. I wish someone could sell the full-body SD-50F, SD-60F and Dash-8-40W that only the CN (and maybe BC Rail) had on its roster.

Martin
Québec City

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Martin4
I wish someone could sell the full-body SD-50F, SD-60F and Dash-8-40W that only the CN (and maybe BC Rail) had on its roster.

At the risk of sounding snide, read the above responses again. Kaslo Shops makes SD50F and SD60F shells, and are working on a C40-8M (operated by CN, BCR, and QNS&L), an M420, and possibly a C630M and/or M630.

As I said above, while the safety cab was and is plentiful, CN had and still has bunches of standard-cab SD40-2's and GP38-2's. The high 5300 series units are SD40-2's built for the MoP, and as close to a plain-Jane SD40-2 as I've ever seen. CN moved the headlight onto the nose, added triangular snowshields, and retrofitted some with dynamic braking, but that's it. Easiest CN unit I ever built.

Kaslo Shops also makes both types of cab (4-window and 2-window) for a CN C44-9. The 2-window is marked as "Australian style", I think; Hammersly Iron's C44-9's have a similar cab.

I forgot to mention earlier that Hobbycraft Canada makes an RS18 - as Canadian as pond hockey and poutine.

[Martin4]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BentnoseWillie

Originally posted by Martin4
I wish someone could sell the full-body SD-50F, SD-60F and Dash-8-40W that only the CN (and maybe BC Rail) had on its roster.

At the risk of sounding snide, read the above responses again. Kaslo Shops makes SD50F and SD60F shells, and are working on a C40-8M (operated by CN, BCR, and QNS&L), an M420, and possibly a C630M and/or M630.

Hi

Thanks for the reply; I saw the information about Kaslo Shops only after posting my own comment. I will now look out for a hobby shop that carries the line.

Martin
Québec City

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