The Canadian 

How I got back into the hobby...

I had a model train layout when I was a kid.

I had a model train layout when I was in law school.

Through the years I kept my subscription to Model Railroader and Trains and stayed interested in the hobby.

One of the moments that hooked me on the hobby was seeing old pictures of the CPR's Canadian passenger train from the '50s. The Canadian is most famous for its dome cars designed to maximize scenery viewing. I rode Via's version of the Canadian several times (last in 2016) and it is one of those things in life that NEVER disappoints. How many things in life are as good today as they were 60 years ago?

Robert J. Sandusky photo.

But owning an HO scale model of the train, or should I say, an accurate model of the train seemed like an impossible dream. A sidebar here - in the glory days of passenger trains, railroads would often order custom equipment. It isn't like today, where an Air Canada A330 looks pretty much like every other A330 except for the paint. The Canadian cars were unique (and, at $40 million in 1955 dollars, a terrible investment considering the downward spiral passenger trains had entered). 

Shoreham Shops offered the train in Brass in the early '90s, but at $300 per car (for a 10 car train) and no prototype F units, that didn't bring the dream any closer.

...and then, in 2008, a Company called Rapido Trains - Rapido trains - announced that they would be offering a 10-car set, with prototype FP9A and F9B units for a decent price. Talking about Rapido is a whole other post in of itself. The company, which grew from very humble beginnings, has endlessly delighted Canadian model railroaders for years by introducing Canadian prototypes that modellers never dreamed of seeing (in plastic, at least). Steam engines. Rolling Stock. Special trains (the Tempo, the LRC). Diesel engines (my RS-18 fleet, FPA-2's, F units, etc. etc. etc.). All highly detailed (they actually put a toilet in one of their models - clarifying that it was non-operable). There is now a company that makes it possible to accurately model your favourite Canadian railroad during the time and place you wish. And they are genuine and fun (their YouTube product videos are worth a watch - for example, Display case.)

I placed my order. And waited. And waited. And waited so more. And then, one day in 2011, my set arrived. It was perfect.

A Chateau series sleeper.

Deluxe Coach

Only one problem. To display, even part of the set, would require 8 feet of wall space and I'd have to find display case to keep off dust.

This required some serious thinkin' because I'd have to create a display case from scratch.

I started with Ikea photo shelves. I added some track. There was no way I was going to leave the track bare, so I ballasted it and put it on foam roadbed. That meant trips to the hobby store.

I added Ikea strip lights.

Skyline Dome car

That wasn't good enough, so I added a blue foamboard backdrop (not perfect but it still works) because the peach coloured walls weren't doing it for me. To keep the dust off, I had clear acrylic side panels custom made and attached them to the Ikea shelves with velcro. They have never come off, and the train remains in its tomb. I do have two spare cars and a spare F unit in storage.

F-units

Pocket Streamliner on the layout.

Park Observation car.

Needless to say, the entire project (which took months) was extremely satisfying. I loved the problem solving. I loved the look of the track. I loved the visuals in my brain of what a perfect diorama would look like.

Which led to...the Aston Spur.