Return Visit to a Great Canadian "Lone Wolf" Model Railroad

Last fall I had a chance to visit a great Canadian model railroad in Winnipeg--a great "lone wolf" model railroad.

As I explained in the post, it was built by a modeller who wasn't on anyone's radar in the city. He and his brother, who also helped with the layout, didn't belong to the local model railroad club or participate in any local model railroad activities.

There are lots of people like them out there--I was like that, once.

I went back to see the layout again recently, this time with Jason Shron, founder and CEO of Rapido Trains. Jason was in town to see his in-laws, and needed a layout to run some of his new products on--things like the new VIA F40PH-2D, LRC and FPA-4 and FPB-4 units, along with a CNR GMD-1. 

(The post about that visit, along with photos of those new products, can be found here.)

Once again, I was totally impressed by the layout, which features the CPR in the 1950s. I think you will be, too, as the photos will attest.

And now I can also tell you the owner's name: Walter Pankratz, owner of this great Canadian model railroad.

Rapido Trains Visits Winnipeg (Again), F40PH-2D, GMD-1, FPA-4 & LRC Locomotives in Tow

Luckily for those of us who live in Winnipeg, the in-laws of Jason Shron, founder and CEO of Rapido Trains, also live in this prairie city. This means that Jason and his family have to visit at least once a year, if not more--bringing great models with him.

This time Jason came bearing the new VIA F40PH-2D, LRC and FPA-4 and FPB-4 units, along with a CNR GMD-1 in the classic green and old scheme. (Sorry Jason; couldn't resist.)

The hosts for the most recent photo and video shoot was Walter Pankratz, who has built a great Canadian model railroad based on CPR operations in the 1950s.

We had a great time posing Rapido's new units at various locations on Walter's layout, and helping Jason make a new video.

A few more photos of these great-looking and great-running products are below.

Walter Pankratz and his brother, Ed, and Jason Shron.

New From Athearn: CN, CPR and CP Rail GP9s

It keeps getting better and better for Canadian model railroaders--now Athearn has announced new Canadian-style CP9s in CN, CPR and CP Rail.

The units, in Athearn's Genesis line, are due in December, 2014. They will retail for $189 without DCC and sound and $289 with DCC and SoundTraxx Tsunami Sound.

They are due out in December, 2014; pre-orders are due May 23. More information is available on Athearn's Facebook page.

As for me, I'd be happier if they were chop-nose units--that would suit my era (early to mid-1990s) much better. But still, this announcement is to be celebrated. With InterMountain and Bowser both making Canadian-style SD40-2s, and with all the great items from Rapido, it's a great time to be a Canadian model railroader.

Update and Flyer About Bowser's New SD40-2: It's Getting Closer!

It's getting closer! Bowser has now published a flyer about their new Canadianized-version of the SD40-2.

The unit will be available in spring, 2015. Pre-orders are due in August.

The X2F Coupler: Keeping it Together Since 1955

Like many HO scale modellers, my first locomotives and rolling stock were equipped with X2F couplers--or, as they were more popularly known, horn hooks.

Also like many HO scale modellers, I converted to Kadee knuckle couplers as quickly as possible.

One person who hasn't is Eric Gagnon of the Trackside Treasure blog. In a recent instalment, Eric gives an interesting look at the history of the much-maligned X2F, and shares why he is still proud to use them on his layout.

This includes what he thinks might be the only Rapido CP Rail Angus Van in the world that uses horn hook couplers.

Note the X2F couplers.

In my early days of modelling, when I didn't have a lot of disposable income, the changeover to Kadees went slowly. For a while I had a boxcar with a horn hook on one end and a Kadee on the other so I could create a train with cars using both couplers.

I don't miss the old horn hooks, and I have no desire to go back to using them. But reading Eric's blog post gave me nostalgic look back at those days.