Canada Club Cars

The Canadian Toy Train Association is pleased to announce that MTH is manufacturing a Pacific Great Eastern Railway side dump car in their Railking line. This limited production of 192 3-rail “O” gauge car comes in two road numbers (96 each) , #6126 & #6130. Delivery is expected in late 2019.

This is the sixth MTH car in our Canadian series and is a limited run. Production car shown in the image above. Preliminary artwork photo in sidebar.

SPECIAL DEAL for CTTA Members!

As a thank you to all the members who continue to support our club, we offered a special price for this car. Although the retail price of this MTH operating car is $ 80.00 plus shipping, CTTA members were eligible to buy a maximum of two PGE side dump cars for the special price of $ 40.00 each, which includes shipping. This was very special pricing for CTTA members.

The Canadian Toy Train Association is pleased to announce that MTH is manufacturing a White Pass & Yukon Route 36’ woodsided reefer in their Premier line. This very limited production “O” gauge car comes in two road numbers in 3 rail (#768 & #772).

This is the fourth MTH car in our Canadian reefer series and is a limited run.

The Canadian Toy Train Association member cost is $ 85.00 CDN per car including shipping within the lower mainland and Vancouver Island.

May, 2018. The Canadian Toy Train Association is pleased to announce that MTH is manufacturing a second British Columbia Electric Railway 36’ woodsided reefer in their Premier line. The BCE operated out of Vancouver and Victoria, BC. This very limited production “O” gauge car comes in two road numbers in 3 rail. Delivery is expected in late 2018

The Canadian Toy Train Association member cost is $ 85.00 CDN per car including shipping within the lower mainland and Vancouver Island.

June 27, 2017. The CTTA is proud to announce our first locomotive project!

A PGE RS-3 from MTH will be produced in the Railking line. In support of our collection of previous PGE rolling stock, and by popular demand within the CTTA, we’re producing a very limited run of this 1st generation diesel in Pacific Great Eastern livery. This will make it possible for members to compile a complete Pacific Great Eastern freight train. The locomotive will complement the CTTA Club Cars  previously released – tankers, reefers, trailer-on-flatcars, hoppers, crane and caboose.

This very limited production “O” gauge diesel comes in two road numbers (#561 and #565) in 3 rail. PGE RS-3 #561 is an operational locomotive and part of the operating fleet at the West Coast Railway Association Heritage Park, in Squamish, BC, near Vancouver.

The cost is $ 240.00 US plus $ 30.00 US shipping for a total of $ 270.00 US per engine. This works out to about $ 375.00 CDN, depending on the dollar.
Delivery to members was completed in May 2018.

If you wish to order, MTH may produce limited quantities of this uncatalogued locomotive for sale at regular price. Check the MTH Web site here.

Prototype MTH Model shown below

 

About the RS-3 Diesel locomotive

By the time the first RS-3’s rolled off the assembly line in 1950, Alco had refined its road switcher concept to create “a truly universal locomotive which could do anything and go almost anywhere,” in the words of author J.W. Swanson in <i>New Haven Power</i>. In contrast with its predecessor, the 1000 hp RS-1, the 1600 hp RS-3 had all the power of a road diesel of its time and could boil along at up to 80 mph.
For awhile in the early 1950’s, ALCO looked like a true contender in the burgeoning road switcher market. RS-3’s could be found on a majority of class one railroads doing everything from switching and transfer duties to mainline freight and even passenger and commuter service.

Ultimately, however, the RS-3 took a distant second place to Electro-Motive’s GP7 and GP9 in sales volume. Perhaps what doomed Alco was EMD’s already-commanding lead in the road diesel market – in part because EMD’s FT was the only road diesel allowed to be produced during World War II, when diesels began their takeover of American railroads. Other builders were relegated to producing diesel switchers until the conflict ended.

There was also talk that Alcos were less dependable. In hindsight, however, that seems to have been a result of EMD’s sales lead. Perhaps shop crews were simply less familiar with Alco’s model 244 prime mover and how to service it. In fact, roads with primarily Alco fleets, such as the New Haven, found Alco products to be very reliable when maintained properly. With their power and flexibility, RS-3’s proved their worth so successfully that many railroads kept them on active duty after other first-generation diesels had been retired. They survived on class 1 railroads until the Delaware &amp; Hudson retired its last RS-3 in 1986 and remained active in shortline and industrial service for years afterward.

Bring the versatility of this do-anything/go-anywhere engine to your railroad with the RailKing Scale RS-3. Thanks to ProtoSound 3.0, our model features authentic Alco prime mover sounds, pulling power to match its hardy prototype, and a speed range from a slow crawl to full throttle.

Did You Know?

The first RS-3’s were delivered with an air-cooled turbocharger that soon proved troublesome. Most engines were later refitted with a more dependable water-cooled unit. The crosswise exhaust stack on our model indicates it has the later water-cooled version. (A turbocharger is a blower, driven by exhaust gases, that pressurizes air coming into the engine and thereby increases horsepower.)

The Canadian Toy Train Association is pleased to announce that MTH is manufacturing a Pacific Great Eastern Railway crane in their Railking line. This limited production “O” gauge crane comes in two road numbers in 3 rail. A matching trailing car will follow in the future. Delivery is expected in early 2018. Image shown is pre-production artwork.

This is the 4th MTH Club Car produced for CTTA.  

In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, and as a thank you to all the members who continue to support our club, we  offered a special price for this crane.

Normal CTTA member price would be $ 85.00. Paid up members were offered a maximum of two PGE cranes for the special price of $ 30.00 each, which includes shipping.

Atlas O is manufacturing a 55 ton coal hopper in Pacific Great Eastern Railway colors for the CTTA.

This is our first hopper car.

This very limited production “O” gauge hopper car comes in two numbers in both 2 rail and 3 rail. Delivery is expected in summer/fall 2017.  Image above shows preliminary artwork for the car. This model features die cast trucks, chassis and center beam, an ABS plastic body, realistic ore load insert, interior separators to add if running the car empty and lots of  added detail.

If you are a member of the Canadian Toy Train Association – the cost is $ 85.00 CDN if delivered in BC.

Mike’s Train House is manufacturing a prototypical 36′ British Columbia Electric wood sided refrigerator car. This very limited Premier line production “O” gauge Reefer car comes in two road numbers, in 3 rail only. Production is scheduled for Spring of 2017. Image above shows preliminary artwork for the car.

This is the second car in our MTH Premier Canadian reefer car series, and third MTH Canadian Car.  

This BC Electric Reefer is the 10th car in the Woodside Reefer series.

Cost of the car for CTTA members is $85.00 CDN per car; shipping included within the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. Delivery to members and dealers is expected in the Summer of 2017.

If you wish to order contact the Club at Canadiantoytrains@gmail.com or Mark Horne at mlhorne@shaw.ca  

Atlas O is manufacturing a prototypical single dome 8000 gallon silver tank car for the CTTA in the British American Oil Company ‘bow tie’ logo colors. This very limited production ‘O’ gauge tank car comes in four road numbers, in both 2 and 3 rail. Production is scheduled for 2016.

This British American Oil tanker is the 4th car in the series.

Features include metal trucks and couplers, stainless steel catwalks, metal chassis, metal ladders and grab rails, and prototypical scheme. Car shown features 3-rail trucks and couplers.

If you are a member of the Canadian Toy Train Association – the cost is $ 85.00 CDN if delivered in BC.

Canadian Toy Train Association is pleased to announce that MTH is manufacturing an Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway 36’ woodsided reefer in their Premier line.

This is the second MTH car in our Canadian Club Cars series.

The E&N, which operated on Vancouver Island off of Canada’s west coast, was later acquired by the Canadian Pacific Railway.  This very limited production “O” gauge car comes in two road numbers in 3 rail.  Delivery is May 2016.  The production car shown here.

This Esquimalt & Nanaimo Reefer is the 9th car in the Woodside Reefer series.

Cost is $ 85.00 CDN or $65 US plus $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered.

The Canadian Toy Train Association is pleased to announce that Mike’s Train House is manufacturing a Premier line Pacific Great Eastern offset steel caboose.

This is the first ever ‘O’ gauge Club Car to be produced by Mike’s Train House.

The production for this caboose will be a very limited run of 112 items, in two road numbers, in 3 rail only. The MTH PGE caboose is based on the existing 30-77222 Canadian Pacific steel caboose models.

The CTTA member cost is $ 70.00 CDN per car including shipping within the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. With the current $USD exchange rate versus the Canadian dollar this is a real deal for our members.

Features include a seated figure in the cupola, metal trucks and couplers, catwalks, chassis, metal ladders and grab rails, with a prototypical scheme including the PGE lettering ‘If it isn’t safe it isn’t right’. Car shown features 3-rail trucks and couplers.

This beautifully decorated O scale Rail Diesel Car by Sunset Models is manufactured to prototypical scale length.

CTTA’s newest car release for hobbyists and collectors will be a set of Budd RDC-1 and RDC-2 passenger cars, produced in the British Columbia Railway two tone green colors paint scheme. This unique one-time run for the Canadian Toy Train Association will be available to order in two road numbers, in both 2-rail and 3-rail versions.

Delivery is scheduled for fall 2015 with an extremely limited run of approximately 40 – 50 units.

 

This CTTA Trailer-on-flatcar club car for 2015 complements the previously released Weaver TOFC cars. This highly detailed Weaver scale model is decorated with the road trailer in the beautiful White Pass & Yukon Route scheme and lettered with ‘Gateway to the Yukon’. The brown wood deck flatcar is lettered with Canadian National markings.

This very limited-production Weaver O gauge car comes in three road numbers for 2-rail and 3-rail operators.

The combination features include metal frame, trucks and couplers; working ramps, spare tire, ladders and grab rails, and prototypical scheme. Image shows car with 3-rail trucks and couplers.

The Canadian Toy Train Association member cost is $ 80.00 CDN per car including shipping within the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. This is the same price as last year’s car, and a real deal for our members.

This is the 4th car in a TOFC series.

CTTA’s 2014 car is the beautifully decorated Imperial Oil 8000 gallon tanker with precise multi-colour “Made in Canada” and “Marvelube Motor Oil” markings. The model is highly detailed, and is decorated with ‘Made in Canada’ graphics.

This limited-production Atlas O car comes in four road numbers, in both 2-rail and 3-rail, for collectors and operators.

Features include metal trucks and couplers, stainless steel catwalks, metal chassis, metal ladders and grab rails, and prototypical scheme. Car shown features 3-rail trucks and couplers.

This car is the 3rd car in our CTTA tanker series.

This CTTA Trailer-on-flatcar club car for 2014 complements the previously released Atlas O 11,000 gallon tanker. The Pacific Great Eastern Rail way was incorporated in 1912 and continued to operate until 1972, when it was renamed BC Rail.

This highly detailed Weaver model is decorated twice over. The road trailer is in the prototypical Pacific Great Eastern orange lettering on a PGE green band on the silver trailer. The wooden deck flatcar is lettered with Pacific Great Eastern markings as well.

This limited-production O gauge car comes in three road numbers, in both 2-rail and 3-rail versions. Features include metal trucks and couplers, metal chassis, ladders and grab rails.

This is the 3rd car in a TOFC series.

The CTTA club car for 2013 is this British American 8000 gallon tanker. This highly detailed Atlas O model is decorated in the beautiful British American Oil Company red, white and two-tone green over black colors. Our limited-production run comes in four road numbers, in both 2-rail and 3-rail.

These striking cars make a great addition to any toy train, and really highlight the fine work of the manufacturers.

Features include metal trucks and couplers, stainless steel catwalks, metal chassis, metal ladders and grab rails, and prototypical scheme. Image shows car with 2-rail trucks and couplers.

2nd car in a tanker series.

This CTTA Trailer-on-flatcar club car for 2013 complements the previously released Atlas O 8000 gallon tanker. This highly detailed Weaver model is decorated twice over. The road trailer is in the beautiful British American Oil Company red, white and two-tone green colors. The flatcar is lettered with Pacific Great Eastern markings on a wood deck flatcar.

This limited-production Weaver O gauge car comes in three road numbers for 2-rail and 3-rail operators.

Features include metal trucks and couplers, metal chassis, ladders and grab rails, and prototypical scheme. Image shows car with 2-rail trucks and couplers.

2nd car in a TOFC series.

The CTTA Trailer-on-flatcar club car for 2012 is our first Weaver Trailer-on-Flatcar model. This highly detailed model has a silver road trailer decorated in the British Columbia Railway white on green with the trillium flower emblem. The wooden deck flatcar is lettered to match. A very limited-production run comes in three road numbers for both 2-rail and 3-rail operators.

Features include metal trucks and couplers, metal chassis, ladders and grab rails, and prototypical scheme. Image shows car with 3-rail trucks and couplers.

1st car in a TOFC series.

The CTTA club car for 2012 is this Pacific Great Eastern 10,000 gallon tanker with PGE graphics. The Pacific Great Eastern Rail way was incorporated in 1912 and continued to operate until 1972, when it was renamed BC Rail.

This highly detailed Atlas O model is decorated in dark green and white. This limited-production O gauge car comes in two road numbers, in both 2-rail and 3-rail versions.

Features include metal trucks and couplers, stainless steel catwalks, metal chassis, metal ladders and grab rails, and prototypical scheme. Image shows car with 2-rail trucks and couplers.

1st car in a tanker series.

This Canadian Pacific Reefer is the 8th car in the 40’ Woodside Reefer series.

Manufactured by Atlas O is this prototypical 40′ woodside reefer in the Canadian Pacific Railway colors for the Canadian Division TTOS. This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two road numbers in both two and three rail. Car shown has 2-rail trucks and couplers.

Production is scheduled for Fall 2010 with delivery during December 2010. Cost is
$ 75.00 US plus $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered.

This Bellingham Bay & British Columbia Reefer is the 7th car in the 40’ Woodside Reefer series.

This ‘SPECIAL EDITION’ double sheath box car is manufactured by Atlas O. The model is a prototypical 40′ woodside reefer, and produced for the Canadian Division of the TTOS (now CTTA). This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two road numbers in both two and three rail. Car shown has 2-rail trucks and couplers.

Production is scheduled for Winter 2010 with delivery during Spring 2010. Cost is
$ 40.00 CDN / 35.00 US, plus $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered.

This CNQ Reefer is the 6th car in the 40’ Woodside Reefer series.

Manufactured by Atlas O is this prototypical 40′ woodside reefer in the Canadian Northern Quebec Railway colors for the Canadian Division of the TTOS. This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two road numbers in both two and three rail. Car shown has 2-rail trucks and couplers.

Production is scheduled for Spring 2009 with delivery during June or August 2009. Cost is $ 75.00 US plus $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered.

This Canadian Pacific refrigerator car is the 5th car in the 40’ Woodside Reefer series.

Atlas O is manufacturing a prototypical 40′ woodsided reefer in the Canadian Pacific Railway colors. This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two road numbers, in both 2 and 3 rail.

Production is scheduled for Spring with delivery during June 2008. Cost is $ 65.00 US plus $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered.

This Grand Trunk Pacific refrigerator is the 4th car in our 40’ Woodside Reefer series.

Atlas O is manufacturing a prototypical 40′ woodside reefer in the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway colors for the Canadian Division of the TTOS (now CTTA). This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two road numbers in both two and three rail. Image shows car with 2-rail trucks and couplers.

The Grand Truck Pacific operated in British Columbia and western Canada from 1903 to 1909, when it was incorporated into the Canadian National.

Production is scheduled for Spring 2007 with delivery during August. Cost is $ 65.00 US plus $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered.

This PGE Reefer is the 3rd car in our 40’ Woodside Reefer series.

Atlas O is manufacturing a prototypical 40′ woodside reefer in the Pacific Great Eastern Railway colors for the Canadian Division of the TTOS (Now CTTA). This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two road numbers, in both two and three rail. Image shows car with 2-rail trucks and couplers. Production is scheduled for Spring 2006 with delivery during July 2006.

Special pricing for Canadian Division members is $ 55.00 US or $ 70 CDN if payment is received by January 31st. Add $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered. Price for non-Canadian Division members is $ 65.00 US. All cars will be shipped from Washington State.

This CN Reefer is the 2nd car in the 40’ Woodside Reefer series.

Atlas O is manufacturing a prototypical 40′ woodside reefer in the Canadian Northern Railway colors for the Canadian Division of the TTOS (now CTTA). This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two road numbers in both two and three rail. Image shows car with 3-rail trucks and couplers.

Production is scheduled for late 2004 or early 2005 with delivery during Spring 2005. Cost is $ 65.00 US plus $ 10.00 US shipping; $ 4.00 US shipping per additional car ordered.

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary, Atlas O is manufacturing a prototypical 40′ Woodside Reefer in the colours of the Canadian National Railway for the Canadian Division of the TTOS (Now CTTA). This very limited production “O” gauge reefer is available in two numbers, and in both two and three rail versions.

Production is scheduled for spring 2004, with delivery expected during May or June 2004. Cost is $ 55.00 US or $ 72.00 CDN (very special Canadian Division Pricing). All cars will be shipped from Washington State.

This CN Reefer is the 1st car in a series.

The Canadian Division of the TTOS (now CTTA) is proud to announce our first ever ‘limited edition’, custom produced ‘Club Car’. This highly detailed K-LINE Scale Caboose will be decorated in the beautiful British Columbia Railway red, white and blue colors. Features include metal trucks and couplers, interior lighting, stainless steel catwalks, operating smoke unit, opening doors, metal chassis, metal ladders and grab rails, and accurate prototypical paint scheme.

This is one of the original cars produced for the Canadian Division of the Toy Train Operating Society (TTOS) back in 2001. This is a very rare car and production quantities are unknown at this time. The attractive O-27 sized tank car is decorated with the yellow, white and red colours of the British Columbia Electric Railway, with black lettering. The car features die-cast sprung trucks.

This is the second Lionel car produced for the TTOS Canadian Division. 

CTTA / TTOS Canadian Division 1st Club Car

This is where it all began for our Club Car program!

This Pacific Great Eastern ‘6464’ series style boxcar was produced by Lionel in 1996 for the Canadian Division of the Toy Train Operating Society, which is now the independent Canadian Toy Train Association.

This special box car was produced with die-cast, sprung trucks and couplers mounted on Lionel’s famous and extremely popular 6464 style boxcar body. The original 30 car 6464 series boxcars, produced between 1953 and 1969, are still some of the most desirable and collectible toy trains today.

The beautifully decorated boxcar is decorated in tuscan brown, accented with a green stripe and Pacific Great Eastern Railway caribou head herald. It is assigned the road number 6464-1972

Standard Gauge Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive

This magnificent Standard Gauge Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive and tender was the final piece and the crowning jewel for the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge set.  Complimenting the collection of previous McCoy Trains rolling stock, this was a very limited run of this classic steam engine wheel configuration. This made it possible for members to compile a complete Standard Gauge freight train. The locomotive will complement the CTTA Club Cars  previously released – tanker, reefer, boxcar, flatcar, log car, hopper and caboose.

This Canadian Pacific Railway steam engine was available in 1985 and 1986, painted in black, maroon and gray. Production totaled sixty-five (65) units. It should be noted that this engine was the first steam engine with a curved cab roof to be manufactured by McCoy. The engine was produced with a single road number.

This Standard Gauge locomotive comes with a matching tender in the black, maroon and gray Canadian pacific colour scheme.

Delivery to members was completed in 1986.

---

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

By Mark Horne

In 1979, the Canadian Division of the Toy Train Operating Society became concerned with the lack of Canadian railroad names being manufactured as toy trains in O, S and Standard gauges. The idea of producing a complete Canadian Standard Gauge train was brought forward. In consultation with Bob and Margaret McCoy, the idea of offering one car per year, to be sold on a pre-order basis to all TTOS members was suggested. The concept was quickly adopted and the program was begun.

The train set to be manufactured would be a 6-car consist, comprised of an Esquimalt & Nanaimo boxcar; a White Pass & Yukon Route double-dome tanker; a Quebec, North Shore & Labrador hopper; a British Columbia Railway bulkhead flatcar; a Tamiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway reefer; and a Howe Sound, Pemberton Valley and Northern Railway Co. caboose. Each of these cars on the train have a special identification marking of ‘Canadian Division TTOS’, the year of production, and a red or white maple leaf silkscreened as part of the decoration.

Leading the train would be a Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive, which would be produced after the 6 original cars.

A 7th car was offered as a bonus to those who had bought the train set, a Shawnigan Lake flatcar with a log load. This car a regular McCoy production item, but was included in the offering program due to its BC heritage.

Motive Power Development of McCoy Trains

By Mark Horne.

Editor’s note: Condensed from ‘The McCoy Story’, chapters VII and VIII.

All of the motorized units are sold completely finished and powered by McCoy manufactured motors, which were designed, built, assembled and tested at their factory. The McCoy motors are 6 to 24 volt AC/DC power, constructed to operate on twenty-one inch radius standard gauge track.

The Cascade Railroad’s 4-4-0 ‘Chief Seattle’, the first steam locomotive introduced into the product line, has an interesting past. This engine is modeled after the the early Lionel #6 Standard Gauge engine. However the tender is an original McCoy design.

To quote from the catalogues: ‘Here is a real classic McCoy locomotive and tender. The cab, steam chests and domes are rich Malden maroon. The boiler is a deep Galveston green with bright nickel boiler bands, bell bracket, smokestack, boiler front and drive rods. All wheels are die-cast and painted red. The drive wheels have bright nickel tires. The working headlight is die-cast and painted. No interior cab lighting. The tender is Malden maroon with Galveston green floor and skirt. Lettering and numbers are in rich gold and black decal’.

This particular style of steam engine, the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement locomotive, has been chosen by both the Train Collectors Association (TCA) and the Toy Train Operating Society (TTOS) to haul their respective Standard Gauge convention trains. With one exception, this steam locomotive has always been produced with a ‘pointed’ cab roof, thus giving the appearance of being modelled after an early steam engine, circa 1900. However, in 1985 the locomotive was built with a modified style ‘curved’ cab roof and painted in Canadian Pacific Railway maroon, gray and black. This special locomotive was produced for the TTOS’s Canadian Division train. This curved-style cab roof gives a streamlined and more modern appearance to the locomotive. The rounded roof is found on no other McCoy steam locomotive.

Although this engine was produced for the Canadian Division, it bears no other identification other than ‘Canadian pacific’ silk-screened on the tender. As with the entire division set, the club/division name is printed on each car in very small lettering. For the steam engine, it was felt that this small lettering would detract from the engine’s appearance, and was therefore left off.

---

Did You Know?

Between 1957-61 McCoy Manufacturing specialized in crafting Standard gauge and 2⅞” gauge reproductions of premium Lionel train line items originally from the 1900’s-20’s. In 1966 McCoy introduced its own Standard gauge line of trains.

More about McCoy Trains

Editors note: used with permission  from Trains and Toy Soldiers

In the world of model trains, there are giants. Lionel and Bachman produce thousands of different models of cars, and often those models are produced in large quantities, thousands of each model. Lionel and Bachman have excellent name recognition and produce excellent products, but they are not for everyone. Some people yearn for something different and distinctive, and for those people we might suggest McCoy Trains.

Like many great ideas and great products, McCoy Manufacturing did not a follow a plan to become one most beloved and collectible model trains ever made in America, but instead responded to customer needs and became what people wanted. The intimate connection between customer and manufacture is one the hallmarks of Mc Coy Trains, and is why they are amongst the most sought after model trains for collectors today.

In the early 20th century, the world was producing wonders at an outstanding rate. In 1908, Ford brought the horse carriage or automobile to the masses with the Model T. In 1908, the Wright brothers became international superstars drawing crowds thousands when they flew in an early Paris airshow. These wonders were also in the home, the widespread introduction of electricity to people’s homes led to the widespread adoption of electric devices in the home. The electric toaster, first available in the late 1900’s, lead the way, but during this period the Lionel standard gauge electric model trains first appeared.

From 1900 to early 1930’s Lionel and others produced standard gauge, also referred to wide gauge trains, for model train lovers at the beginning of the American Century. After the early 1930’s, although Lionel was no longer manufacturing standard gauge equipment, many of collectors of standard gauge loved their trains and had no interest in changing formats. McCoy manufacturing, the maker of McCoy Trains allowed these collectors to keep their trains running by providing replacements parts.

In the middle 1960’s after spending years creating reproductions of pre-war Lionel locomotives and rolling stock, McCoy Manufacturing brought out their own line of Standard gauge model trains. Unlike the giants of model train world, each McCoy train was produced in small batches and had a distinctive flair. In many ways, they were a new evolution in model trains. Whereas, Model Trains had original sought to imitate the full size trains of the modern world, McCoy Trains were individual works of art in themselves and for themselves. Boldly violating convention, McCoy Model Trains were not trying to be more like full sized trains but instead be beautiful and complete in of themselves. Much more models of the concept or ideal of train, then the reality. McCoy model trains were what we thought of when thought about trains, how we thought they should be. Powerful yet graceful, utilitarian yet beautiful, models of a dream of train more than the reality.

Sadly, most sadly, after many years of producing these distinctive and unique pieces of American art, McCoy manufacturing ceased production in 1998. While we still regret many years later, that there will be no more new McCoy trains, we cherish the trains that remain and very proud to bring a few to you to admire and perhaps take home for yourself.

https://trainsandtoysoldiers.com/blog/what-are-mccoy-trains/

Production History of McCoy Trains – TCA Western Division

For more on McCoy Trains, check out this great page from the Train Collectors Association, Western Division: http://www.tcawestern.org/mccoy.htm 

Standard Gauge Howe Sound, Pemberton Valley and Northern Railway Co. caboose

By Mark Horne

The last car of this six car series was the unnumbered Howe Sound, Pemberton Valley and Northern Railway Co. drover caboose, added in 1985.

This car, as with all the cars in the Canadian set, came with a one-page history sheet that gave some background information on the railway it represented.

One hundred ten cabooses were produced, not counting two early variations. When the car was originally manufactured, several paint samples were created. Some drover cabooses were painted bright orange with black roofs because Bob McCoy thought the orange colour would be more popular and go better with the previously issued cars. A couple of others were painted gray with black roofs. Both of these variations are easily identifiable because the elk head inside the railway’s crest was silk-screened backwards on one side, thus producing two different crests. The correct crest shows the elk head facing to the left, towards the words ‘Howe Sound’, which circle the crest.

The gray and black colour scheme was chosen for the drover caboose because it best matched the colours of the Canadian Pacific Railway 4-4-0 steam locomotive that was manufactured to haul this set.

This Standard Gauge caboose was produced with a black roof; white, black and brown lettering; Type O trucks.

The cost was $ 50.00 US plus shipping. Delivery to members was completed in 1985

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

See the entry for the 1986 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive for the complete story !

Standard Gauge Shawnigan Lake Lumber Co. Ltd. Flatcar with log load

By Mark Horne

The Shawnigan Lake #291 Flatcar with logs load was offered to members as an ‘extra’ item to those who had purchased the original train set. The flatcar was the last item added to the train consist, which was now seven cars long. This log car was a regular McCoy production item, but was included in TTOS Canadian Division car program because of its British Columbia heritage. This Flatcar with logs load has no known variations.

This Standard Gauge car was decorated with a black body and stakes, with white lettering. No TTOS markings or Maple Leaf appear on this car. Type O trucks.

The cost was $ 40.00 US plus shipping. Delivery to members was completed in 1986.

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

See the entry for the 1986 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive for the complete story !

Standard Gauge Tesmiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway Reefer Car

By Mark Horne

A refrigerator car was added to the line in 1984 when the #6191 Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway car was manufactured. This reefer car, of which one hundred fifteen units were produced, has no known variations.

This Standard Gauge reefer was decorated with a white body, blue roof and doors. Lettering is red, blue and black. Type O trucks.

The cost was $ 40.00 US plus shipping. Delivery to members was completed in 1984.

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

See the entry for the 1986 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive for the complete story !

Standard Gauge British Columbia Railway Bulkhead Flatcar

By Mark Horne

The second most common car in this set terms of production numbers is the #41502 British Columbia Railway bulkhead flatcar with a wood load. One hundred twenty units were manufactured in 1983. This car was of a new design and required special tooling, since Bob McCoy had not previously produced a bulkhead flatcar.

The wood loads, usually made of cedar, were issued with either a ‘CanFor’ labelled load, named for Canadian Forest products, or ‘Weldwood’ for Weldwood of Canada, which is another company in the Canadian Forest Industry.

This Standard Gauge bulkhead flatcar with load was produced with a green body, with yellow, black and white lettering. Type O trucks.

The cost was $ 40.00 US plus shipping. Delivery to members was completed in 1983.

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

See the entry for the 1986 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive for the complete story !

Standard Gauge Quebec, North Shore & Labrador Hopper Car

By Mark Horne

The Quebec, North Shore & Labrador hopper car was issued in 1982, with no car number silkscreened on the car’s body. One hundred nine units were produced, plus one colour reversed variation.

Snap in coal loads were available through McCoy Trains manufacturing, although these loads were not sold as part of the car.

This Standard Gauge hopper with optional load was produced with a white and red body, with black detail lettering. Type O trucks.

The cost was $ 40.00 US plus shipping. Delivery to members was completed in 1982.

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

See the entry for the 1986 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive for the complete story !

Standard Gauge White Pass & Yukon Route Tank Car

By Mark Horne

The rarest car in terms of production numbers is the #413 White Pass & Yukon Route double dome tank car manufactured in 1981, which had only one hundred and seven units made. No known variations of this car were made.

This car, as with all the cars in the Canadian set, came with a one-page history sheet that gave some background information on the railway it represented.

This Standard Gauge double dome tanker was produced with a yellow body, black frame with red, white and blue lettering. Type O trucks.

The cost was $ 40.00 US plus shipping. Delivery to members was completed in 1981

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

See the entry for the 1986 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive for the complete story !

Standard Gauge Esquimalt & Nanaimo Boxcar

By Mark Horne

The attractive yellow-cream boxcar was manufactured in 1980, bearing road number #904.

The E&N herald features a large elk in brown, over green and white, with red and black lettering for the railroad name and car specifications.

This Standard Gauge boxcar came with Type O trucks.

The cost was $ 40.00 US plus shipping. Delivery to members was completed in 1980.

About the McCoy Trains Standard Gauge train set produced for the TTOS Canadian Division

See the entry for the 1986 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 steam locomotive for the complete story !