Dear N Scaler Modelers: two years ago we were approached by Rapido Trains, when they announced their new Passenger Cars in HO Scale and, we were asked if we were interested in producing with Rapido Coaches, Baggage and Cafe Bar Lounge cars, with the BC Rail 25th Anniversary Commemorative Graphics. To commemorate 25 years of the Royal Hudson in excursion service (pictured below).

It was suggested we run 5 or 6 of the named coaches. The train usually ran with 11 Coaches, a Baggage car, and two Cafe Bar Louge Cars.

So instead, we decided to do the whole train (all 14 cars) as it ran between 1999 and 2001. There were thousands of tourists who visited BC in those years who had the pleasure to experience the thrill of travel the way it used to be up the scenic Howe Sound to Squamish. (I know I was lucky enough to have made the trip once with my wife).

All cars in the set will have the special 25th Year Anniversary Logo's which were added to the car in 1999, (pictured below is a close up of the graphics).

Some of you may wonder what to use to pull this great train, since the Royal Hudson doesn't exist yet in N Scale. Well in addition to the ex-CPR Royal Hudson N0. 2860, the train also ran behind ex-CPR FP7A No 4069. (The excursion train made its last trip on September 23, 2001). Intermountain just released the CPR FP7A with Block Lettering, in N Scale.

So here's your chance, if you model BC Rail, or if you are into unique passenger equipment. Here is one set you will not want to miss. We are going to do all 14 cars (the complete train) with Rapido in N Scale!

The Coaches will come first. And then we will get them to do the Baggage car "Shalalth", followed by the two Cafe Bar Lounge cars Horseshoe Bay, and Lions Bay. The Day Coaches are named: Brunswick, Porteau, Sunset Beach, Birken, Whistler, Capilano, Exeter, Seton, Chasm, Dragon, and Kelly Lake.

When we ran the cars in HO we created SKU numbers for the following:

a) an SKU for a complete 11 car Coach Set (please order "1" for the set)

b) an SKU for the one Baggage car (please order "1" for the single car)

c) an SKU for the two Cafe Bar Lounge Cars (please order "2" if you want both cars)

These three items will get you a complete set.

We also did:

d) an SKU for a 6 car set

e) an SKU for a 5 car set

f) an SKU for single coach cars.

We found that the majority of the HO customers wanted an 11 car set, but some wanted a 5 or 6 car set, so we split some 11 cars to accomidate customers. But when we release the smaller N Scale cars, we expect most customers will opt for the complete 11 consist + the 2 Cafe Bar Lounge + 1 Baggage Car (14 Cars Total). We will fill and honor all 11 car coach sets first and then try to fill as many of the requests for split sets or singles.

We thank you for supporting us, and we hope to bring you other exciting releases in the future.

Additional Information on the 25th Anniversary Royal Hudson Passenger Excursion Train

The Royal Hudson steam excursion train from North Vancouver to Squamish was inaugurated in 

1974 and quickly became one of the province's top tourist attractions. 

 
By 1993, however, the ex-CPR passenger coaches comprising the train were exhibiting signs of 

structural deterioration and required replacement. Prior to the 1993 season the railway replaced 

the four worst cars with an ex-CNR/VIA cafe-bar lounge car and three day coaches leased from 

VIA Rail. For the 1994 season another cafe-bar lounge car and three day coaches were leased.  

These eight cars ran in VIA paint with white overlays to conceal the yellow VIA lettering.  At the 

end of the 1994 season the eight cars were purchased as well as a matching baggage car.  Five 

additional day coaches were purchased in 1995 to complete the replacement program and provide 

a consist of fourteen cars.  Following their sale to BC Rail, the coaches were repainted in Tuscan 

livery and named for locations along the BC Rail line, commencing with the PORTEAU in 

February 1995.

For the 1999 season the cars received a special logo commemorating the Royal Hudson's 

25th anniversary of operation in excursion service. (The excursion train made its last trip 

on September 23, 2001.)

The day coaches purchased in 1994 and 1995 were built originally for the CNR by Canadian 

Car & Foundry in 1954.  The two cafe-bar lounge cars were converted from day coaches by 

the CNR in 1964.  The baggage car was built by National Steel Car in 1955.  All were acquired 

by VIA Rail in March 1978. These coaches match the Super Continental Line passenger cars 

produced in HO Scale by Rapido Trains Inc.  They have also recently been announced in 

N Scale as the Panorama Line.  These fine models make it possible for a limited run of the 

post-1994 Royal Hudson consist to be produced accurately in HO and N Scales.  The Royal 

Hudson locomotive has been offered several times in brass by various importers, and the 

FP7A diesel locomotive is currently available from Intermountain lettered for in HO and N 

Scales.

Timothy J. Horton
Author & Historian