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What is the significance of each locomotive in the "Icons of Canadian Steam," line by Rapido?

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 4:56 AM

Overmod

Probably a better solution was the 'foes' function that the Forums had up until just a few years ago.  As I recall the documentation saying, this would quietly suppress posts from anyone a particular used designated a 'foe', a bit like a user filter on an e-mail system.

Now that is interesting. I have been a forum member since 2004, but I never knew about that function. I like it. Yes

Rich

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 6:22 AM

The OP's question is highly subjective, as have been a great percentage of the replies, at least the ones I tried to drag myself through. Which is to be expected. 

Only the people/person who made the list have those subjective answers.

No offense to our Canadian friends, Canada had great steam locos, but I'm not buying any. And my reasons are also complelely subjective.

I don't collect random "famous" locomotive models, I don't own a model of a UP BigBoy, or a long list of other locos the manufacturers keep cranking out.

I only buy models that fit the theme of my layout. I don't model Canada.........

So unless Rapido makes a B&O P7d, or some other jewel of railroading in the Mid Atlantic, they are off my radar.

As for the direction of this thread or this forum, I find myself less motivated to read or post anything every day.

Sheldon 

    

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 6:59 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
No offense to our Canadian friends, Canada had great steam locos, but I'm not buying any. And my reasons are also complelely subjective. I don't collect random "famous" locomotive models, I don't own a model of a UP BigBoy, or a long list of other locos the manufacturers keep cranking out. I only buy models that fit the theme of my layout.

You repeat these kinds of assertions (I don't buy, I don't do, I don't this or that) over and over and over and over - over how many years in how many topics?  Wouldn't it be easier to just put those statement in a signature and save the trouble of typing it out umpteen times in umpteen topics?  Idea  

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 9:21 AM

Remember that "icon" can mean "representative" - in other words, "typical". It doesn't necessarily mean "famous". I think Rapido is trying to build engines that were well known Canadian engine types that many modellers of the steam / transition era in Canada could use, not just record-setters or 'celebrity' engines. 

Stix
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 7:10 PM

Let's face it, icon was the not best choice of words.

Rich

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 7:12 PM

Lastspikemike
The current meaning now unfortunately includes merely a pictograph representing a computer  pathname. 

It would be par for the course to observe you completely missing the semantics of why the team chose that word for the functionality.  It's a play on the Orthodox explanation why their icons aren't 'graven images' as Biblically prohibited, but placeholders for 'the real thing' located elsewhere (and likely not callable directly eithout, er, priestly intervention or its equivalent).

Of course in the intervening years much in IxD, including using pictorial avatars for clickable entities or controls, has been trivialized at times.  But if you are going to judge it you should do so using the truth, not what you believe. 

To bring this DEFINITIVELY back on topic: here is the list of 'icons of Canadian steam' taken from lastspikemike's informational post on the 21st:

Royal Hudson (as issued).  Then, scheduled:

"2018"

CP 4-6-0 (three classes);

CN 4-6-0 (two classes)

"2019"

Regular (not 'royal') CP Hudson (two classes)

CN 2-8-0 (2 classes

"2020"

CP light Pacific (two classes)

CN light Mountain (one class, U1f)

"2021"

CP heavy Pacific (3 classes)

CN heavy Pacific (3 classes

"2022"

Selkirk (two classes; presumably semistreamlined and 'regular'?)

CN U4 (two classes - no mention of CN vs. GTW streamlining differences, but I 'thought' I remembered U4a was the CN streamlining and U4b the Grand Trunk Western with those snazzy fins)

"2023"

(finally!) the CP Jubilees (2 classes; essentially counts as two different engines)

 

Some of these are iconic in their own right, and I think we have discussed them.  Some of the 4-6-0s are engineered and built like large road power; one such (I believe from 1930) is at NH&I in pieces ... very impressive pieces when you examine them.  This is a general-purpose engine, not a trick pony like a PRR G5, and I believe (although this is not an area of direct interest for me) that several authors have written about these engines as particularly good for what the railroad 'needed' up to (and perhaps after!) the advent of dieselization.

Let the real Canadians comment profusely!

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Posted by BATMAN on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 7:29 PM

I wonder if Jason is sensing this disturbance in the force he created.Laugh

Brent

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, September 24, 2020 9:27 AM

I am precisely the same way about the prospect of a real K5a instead of that kludge in the toy-train set, and a U4b, and any Jubilee.  I'd never have the excuse to run them, but then again I never wear the Edward Howard...

And yeah, that would apply to a K1a if they made them, and probably to specific road numbers of Betty.

And a high-pressure Selkirk, but that ain't one I think they'll make...Laugh

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Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, September 24, 2020 9:49 AM

Lastspikemike
Finally, surely Rapido couldn't possibly be riffing on the fact that Rapido and only Rapido makes a Canadian steam locomotive.

I dunno, Mike, but the Japanese and Koreans made a lot of Canadian steam locomotives, too.

Wayne

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, September 24, 2020 9:53 AM

I maintain that Rapido simply misused the word.

Instead of icon, they should have chosen a word such as titan.

Rich

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, September 24, 2020 10:25 AM

Lastspikemike
Trainsubstantiation, anyone?

How could you? LaughLaughLaugh

What he meant about the Canadian locomotives is 'at currently cost-effective price tiers' and with a good selection.  I suspect only a Canadian firm, and moreover one with more enthusiasm than concern for opportunity cost, would undertake the combination of scope and quality for price that Rapido has...

Funny how I have no objection to the phrase 'iconic Canadian steam' but pick at 'icons of Canadian steam'.  It's not the same thing semantically but I can't put my finger on why...

And I am still watching for a Canadian to explain why a 2-8-0 is iconic but a 2-8-2 isn't Whistling

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, September 24, 2020 11:16 AM

doctorwayne
I dunno, Mike, but the Japanese and Koreans made a lot of Canadian steam locomotives, too.

And not-too-pricey compared to the latest plastic steam locomotive offerings.

The brass Canadian locomotives are beauties.

-Kevin

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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, September 24, 2020 11:23 AM

Overmod, If you want a K5a, Van Hobbies did a run in 1978 made by Samhongsa. I wanted a K5a too so I bought a brass one that had been nicely painted. It is a beauty and after some work on the drive, it now runs very smoothly. It does have a can motor. I bought mine from Brasstrains and I see they have a one for sale now. Get it painted as the cost to paint such a loco is high. I would like a Jubilee also and Van Hobbies did a run in 1974 but I find they aren't that well done. I was quoted $300 to paint one. I guess I'll be in an an assisted living place by the time Rapido bring theirs out. Time isn't on my side which is why I bought a brass CN J4e Pacific. It is on Rapido's list but I can't wait that long. 

CN Charlie

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, September 24, 2020 11:32 AM

CNCharlie
Overmod, If you want a K5a, Van Hobbies did a run in 1978 made by Samhongsa. I

i know, and they are lovely, but still out of my price range to keep just as jewelry Smile

Not that I don't keep thinking about it whenever I see one...

The thing is that one with Rapido detail design, modern drive and all, and non-collector price would sure put me over the line into active purchasing...

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, September 24, 2020 11:59 AM

Suppose I said "New York Central steam engine". What would you picture in your mind? It probably wouldn't be an H-5 class 2-8-2, although (I believe) that was the most common engine on NYC's roster. It probably wouldn't be the Niagara 4-8-4, although that was almost certainly the best steam engine the railroad (some would argue the best any railroad) had. It would probably be the 4-6-4 Hudson. So, despite not being the best or most plentiful NYC engine, you could consider it the iconic Central steam engine.

If you lived in a town on the CP or CN in steam days, the engines you'd see the most would be 4-6-0s and 2-8-0s, doing their mundane everyday work. When you thought back to that time, that is the images you would probably recall.

Stix
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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, September 24, 2020 12:15 PM

wjstix
So, despite not being the best or most plentiful NYC engine, you could consider it the iconic Central steam engine.

The problem with this is that NYC has more than one iconic engine, if not 'the' most ... which isn't a Hudson so much as 11 specific ones ... and while the H5 was not one, the H10 was, in spades!

Perhaps the point is better made over on 'that other railroad' where 2-8-0s were used all the time... but the 'lollipops' there were more iconic, at least to most of the PRR steam aficionados I know.  Were 2-8-2s not as popular in Canada due to size vs. era as they were in the United States?

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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, September 24, 2020 3:37 PM

Not sure why the mikado wasn't included. The CN had 497 of them so they weren't unusual. I expect CP had lots too.

Stix, I grew up in Winnipeg and saw a lot of steam in the last few years it ran, 1957-59.  I railfanned on the CN west mainline and the most common loco I saw was the mikado. Also saw a lot of Pacifics and Mountains. Not that many ten wheelers or consolidations. 

Overmod, I paid $395 for my K5a and getting a major 'tune-up' plus a motion decoder only cost an additional $105. So in the end not any more than Rapido cost range. Sound would have added another $100. It runs as well or better than any plastic loco I have. 

CN Charlie

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, January 22, 2023 1:09 PM

I'll bump this; I now have one of the Van's K5as and it is just as fine a piece of jewelry in the hand as I expected.  I have not tinkered with cleanup or running yet... but does Loksound have a project for it, or does TCM have reasonable support?

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