Ragnar's HO Model Trains Weeb Site: President's Choice Train Sets

	1^st set for Christmas 1992, was the all aboard the P.C. Express PC SD-35 Diesel Edition
	2^nd set for Christmas 1993, was the PC Insider's Express CN 2-6-0 Mogul Edition
	3^rd set for Christmas 1994, was the PC Insider's Express CN 2-8-2 Mikado Edition
	4^th set for Christmas 1995, was the PC Insider's Express CN SD-35 Diesel Edition
there was no train set for Christmas 1996
	5^th set for Christmas 1997, was the PC 4-8-2 Mountain Express CN 4-8-2 Mountain U-1-d Edition
	6^th set for Christmas 1998, was the PC 2-6-0 Camelback Express CP 2-6-0 Camelback Edition
	7^th set for Christmas 1999, was the PC 4-6-2 Pacific Express CP 4-6-2 Semi-Steamlined Pacific Edition
there was no train set for Christmas 2000
	8^th set for Christmas 2001, was the PC 6060 Bullet-Nosed Express CN 4-8-2 Bullet-Nosed Mountain Edition
	9^th set for Christmas 2002, was the PC Yard Bull Switcher Locomotive CN 0-8-0 Yard Bull sub-class P-5-d Edition
no train set for 2003 Not too happy about that:o(
no train set for 2004 Even less happy about that:o(
	10^th set for Christmas 2005, was the PC Mini Chef's Express CN 4-6-4 Hudson class K-5-a Edition
	11^th set for Christmas 2006, was the PC "Big 10 Express" 2-10-2 class T-2-a Santa-Fe Edition
no train set for 2007 Very disappointed :o(
	12^th set for Christmas 2008, There is talk of a special Anniversary Edition Train release this year.
there were also a few model kits
	President's Choice Insider's Express Coal Bunker Model Kit.
	5-Building Kit, for the PC Insider's Express Train sets Came out in 1994

	Ragnar's HO Model Trains Weeb Site
	President's Choice Train Sets

To date there are eleven (11) President's Choice Train sets, I have at least one of each. President's Choice is a line of no-name grocery products sold in several grocery chains, like Loblaws and No frills. The Insider's Report is a flyer advertizing the new products. The President's Choice line has expanded to include hundreds of the best stuff, including several limited edition trains sets which are only sold at stores in Canada. The train sets are manufactured by IHC / Mehano in Slovenia, and feature some Canadian historic train or other Canadian elements. All are, or were, Limited Editions

Please Note:
I am not selling these train sets, nor can I hook you up with someone who is, if you are looking for them look at an on-line auction like eBay, also I have seen them at train shows and rail fairs, often for a higher price but you can barter them down to a fair market value.

The first President's Choice train sets come out for Christmas 1992, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the line of products and the Insider's Report. I think there was a plan to release a new one every year for Christmas. However, they kind of dropped the ball for 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2004 didn't release as set those years. Just think we could have had fifteen (15) PC Train sets by now.

About the Locomotives All the locomotives in these train sets are remarkably good for what they cost. In fact most people I know who also use their PC Train set locomotives also like them, a lot. I really think that these sets are worth getting for the locomotive alone.

About the Rolling stock All of the cars in these train sets come with truck mounted horn-hook couplers on all the cars. Most of the cars are pretty and/or cute I've considered putting metal wheels or even better trucks on them, but with out body mounted couplers I won't. I have mounted knuckle couplers to a few of them but the truck mounts to the cars aren't up to the job.

About the Track The first ten sets came with "Quality" brass track for oval layout, but the first one which has track for a figure 8 layout. The 11th set is the first set to have nickel silver track, which is much better track. All track will corrode and the corrosion on brass and steel track is electrically insulating but the corrosion on nickel silver track will still conduct the current to your locomotive, or at least much more so than the other options.

About the Power Packs The Power packs that come with the sets are alright but I don't use them to drive my tracks. They use a rheostat and don't give fine performence. Also if you're running DCC just put the right card in the locos and enjoy them. I do use the original power packs for AC stuff like for throwing the switches and building lights.

Why this???

I've put this information on-line to make it available for those who are wanting to know this stuff.

Further to this info I have compiled a list of the Rail Cars and Locomotives in all the President's Choice Train Sets.


		© Ragnar Torfason 2007 November 18