Dan Thomas is now Rapido's fourth Dan. It also seems customary for Rapido UK Dans to be photographed with Welsh Highland Railway Garratts!

The first order of business is to say a big 'hello' to Dan Thomas, who joins us as our full-time graphic artist.

Dan hails from South Wales and is not only a skilled graphic designer but also a seriously talented railway modeller. He will take on the bulk of our graphic design requirements, from producing livery artwork to the adverts you see in the model press.

He's already produced the Lion artwork you'll see in a minute as well as working on something Fleetline related...

Welcome to the Rapido family, Dan!

a Roxey Mouldings 'Troodos' Cyprus Government Railways kit.

The addition of Dan to the team means that we no longer have to rely on help from the North American business for our graphic design needs. We’d therefore like to place on record our thanks to Bill, Josh and Bobby for their help.

While we're dishing out the thanks, we couldn't have got to where we are today without our UK designer, Corwin Bainbridge. Corwin has been doing graphic design for us on a freelance basis and he's gone above and beyond to dig us out of many a hole.

Together, Dan and Corwin will make a formidable graphics team!

Here’s a reminder that the order book for FIVE products closes on September 1st 2022. That means that you only have a handful of days to get your orders in for:

The only way to secure the model (or models) you want is to order now, either from your local Rapido UK stockist or by clicking on the buttons below.

Click here or on the above image to watch our sound-fitted '15XX' in action. You only have until September 1st to get your order in, so don't delay!

Warranty Engineer Dan (not to be confused with ‘new’ Dan) has fitted a sound decoder to our ‘15XX’ EP, using the sound file that our friends at Digitrains have generated for us.

Click here or on the above image to have a listen. Impressive, innit?

We're also delighted to announce that we've received enough 'expressions of interest' (EOI) to put our 'what might have been' GWR-liveried '15XX' into production. If you registered with us, you'll soon (if you haven't already) receive an invitation to convert your EOI into an actual order.

The rest of the '15XX' models can be ordered by clicking here. Remember that deadline... September 1st is just around the corner!

This is 1930 Condition Lion (SKU913001). It's available in either DC/Silent or Sound-fitted form (SKU913501).

We’ve said that Lion will be available in 1930 Condition and 1980 Condition but have never shown what those liveries actually look like.

Well, we’ve got ‘new’ Dan on the case and he’s produced these preliminary artworks to show them off.

If you were undecided about which Lion to order, this will hopefully make your decision easier. Remember: you’ve only got until September 1st to make up your mind but you can order by clicking here:

This is 1980 Condition Lion (SKU913002). Again, a version is available with factory-fitted sound decoder (SKU913502).

Rev Weech at the controls of Thunderbolt! Modelu has completed work on the poses and the uniforms but some final finishing off to the sculpting is required before the figures enter production. They really look the part, don't they?

This really is the last call for one of the signature items in the Rapido UK range.

It's probably worth emphasising the point that our current licence with STUDIOCANAL only covers us for one production run. And now that the planned range from another manufacturer have been cancelled, this is your only chance to buy highly detailed, ready-to-run, 1:76 scale models of The Titfield Thunderbolt.

If you miss out now, that's it.

And if you need any further encouragement, we’ve received the first samples of the figures that will be included free in the Deluxe Pack. We're not often speechless here at Rapido but all we can say about the work that Modelu has done is: ‘wow’!

Click here to order your Titfield train packs:

We have to be honest, both the 'Loriot' and the 'Toad' have been ready for production for a while so there's not a lot more we can say about them to encourage you to buy... other than, feast you eyes on all that detail… and then get clicking on the buttons below!

Our UK designers have gone to great lengths to ensure that our 'OO' gauge GWR 'Loriot Y' machinery truck is the best on the market. There are three versions to choose from and you can order by clicking here.

The final figure in our range is the Squire, Mr Chesterford. He stands in characteristic pose next to one of our wonderful Dia. AA20 'Toads'. There are ten to choose from and you can order yours by clicking here.

If you're a Rapido UK customer living in either Canada or the United States, you can now order products direct from the UK website.

Our intention was for the new North American website to handle 'local' UK orders but as the team in Markham are still ironing out bugs in their site, we thought we'd ease their burden by handling the orders ourselves.

If you're a UK customer who buys North American models from our Canadian sister company, don't worry: our website will still handle orders as usual.

'E1' No. 2 Yarmouth looks resplendent in full 1930s Southern Railway livery in this colourised image. This is how sole-surviving No. 110 will appear when it returns to service on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway... and you can own your own 1:76 scale version too!

If you wondered why we hadn’t included a Southern Railway green ‘E1’ in our initial release, it’s because we were putting the finishing touches to a deal for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway to get this livery as an exclusive edition.

The IoWSR is home to the sole surviving ‘E1’, No. 110 Burgundy. If you’ve not kept track of this engine, it left the East Somerset Railway in 2012 for the Isle of Wight where it will be restored as No. 2 Yarmouth in 1930s condition.

This model is limited to just 500 pieces and the RRP is £164.95. They will only be available from the railway's shop. The railway is having a few technical issues at the moment and so, at the time of writing, you can only order over the phone or by popping into Havenstreet station. They will be available to order online in due course!

Please don't ask if they will be price-matched to other retailers because these models will not be discounted. The railway needs to every penny raised by the sales of these models to return this locomotive to service.

Here is one of two 'E1s' that are exclusive to Train Times: 'E1' No. 113 in lined LBSCR black livery.

Last issue, we announced that Train Times in Eastbourne had commissioned two 'E1s' in LBSCR lined black. We're now delighted to be able to announce the identities of the models in question:

Both are available to order now and will feature parts unique to these models.

This is the new 936006: No. 137 in LBSCR umber. It has the later Marsh boiler but still retains its Stroudley chimney.

While on the subject of ‘E1s’, thank you to everyone who has contacted us to essentially say that I’ve made a massive cock up with LBSCR No. 694 (SKU936006).

This locomotive carried LBSCR lined black… and not umber.

In my defence, the lining pattern is the same and it’s not easy to tell in black and white photographs.

ANDY: Sounds like a bad workman blaming his tools!

RICHARD: Ahem...

Marsh introduced two new liveries in 1905: lined umber for passenger engines and lined black for goods engines. The lining pattern for both was effectively the same. Lined black became the standard livery for the 'E1' until 1921 when shortages of paint forced the LBSCR to adopt umber for goods engines. Some ‘E1s’ received this livery between 1921 and the end of 1923, when Southern Railway black became the standard.

Anyway, after further research (thanks to Gary at Train Times!), we have amended the running number of SKU936006 to the following:

This has a late condition boiler but with Stroudley chimney. Remaining specification is as previously advertised.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

ANDY: It shouldn’t happen again as I’ve taken him out back and beaten him about the head repeatedly with a copy of Peter Wisdom’s Southern Style Part Two.

RICHARD: Ouch.

Completed saddletanks for SKU903003/SKU903503 Beatrice. By the time you read this, these parts will have been fitted to models.

Good news: assembly of Hunslet 16in 0-6-0STs has started! All the parts have been made and painted and are now – quite literally – being stuck together.

The factory has surpassed all expectations with the livery application and these promise to be absolutely stunning little locomotives.

The not so good news is that we're waiting on ESU to supply decoders. We have no idea when they'll be delivered and, consequently, can't say when the Hunslet will land in the UK. It's likely to be towards the end of the year but we'll keep you posted.

Here are factory-supplied samples of four of our 11 versions of our SECR 10t van. These were taken off the production line... and the rest of the shipment is en route to the UK!

However, we have a bit more good news because both the SECR 10t vans and the two-plank ballast wagons have left the factory. Again, the factory has done a stunning job with these and they shouldn’t disappoint.

As it’ll take a couple of months – at least – for them to circumnavigate the globe, here is another image to tide you over…

Here we have four factory-supplied samples of the SECR two-plank ballast wagon. In this view, you can see SECR, Southern and BR liveries, as well as the extended and cut-back floor plank styles.

Now we come to the bit that you've all been waiting for: the Wisbech & Upwell section of our newsletter!

Can't remember what's in it? No problem:

Before we fully immerse ourselves in the W&U, please remember that Wisbech is pronounced wiz-beach and not wiz-beck

OK, here we go...

We know that you’ve been desperate to order non-Titfield versions of our W&U bogie coaches… well, now you can!

There are five versions to choose from:

919003: Composite No. E60461, BR livery (with LNER style number)

919004: Third No. E60462, BR livery (with Gill Sans number)

Although both vehicles look similar at first glance, they’re actually very different.

They were both just over 37ft long (over buffers) and had a maximum height of 10ft 2in – rather squat by railway standards. No. 7 could hold ten First Class passengers and 22 Second, whilst No. 8 had a total capacity of 34 Second (later Third) Class passengers.

However, details like body panelling and roof layout were unique to each vehicle. Needless to say, designer Linny has done a magnificent job in re-creating the subtle nuances between them.

As with all Rapido models these models feature a high level of detail on the outside, underside and inside, including different roofs, interiors, end steps, handbrakes and other detail fittings. All interiors will be fully visible with a removable roof.

RRP is £74.95 each and the order deadline is December 1st 2022. You can order from your local Rapido UK stockist or by clicking on the button below:

After the KTLR closed, stardom beckoned for No. E60462 (GER No. 8) for it featured in The Titfield Thunderbolt. Fully restored into GER livery at Stratford Works, it was scrapped on March 9th 1957. No. E60461 (GER No. 7) was sold and its body became an onion store before being rescued for preservation. Acquired by the M&GN Society in 2002, it has been fully restored, complete with a Titfield-style bar.

919006: Third No. E60461, BR maroon with coaching stock roundel.

STOP PRESS: Spoof-liveried W&U coaches!

We had nearly got this newsletter completed when some bright spark electronically painted the W&U coaches in BR maroon with the coaching stock roundel.

ANDY: It genuinely wasn't me!

RICHARD: Anyway, both coaches were withdrawn long before BR started to paint its coaches maroon. But given how good Rails' LNER Dynamometer Car looks in maroon, we thought why not add them to the range of 'what might have been' liveries.'?

So we have.

Here is what both coaches could look like... but we'll only make them if we receive enough 'expressions of interest' (EOI). To register your EOI, click here:

A 3D render of our forthcoming Wisbech & Upwell Tramway Train Packs. The ‘C53s’ feature all the same high-quality details as Model Rail’s ‘J70s’ but have an upgraded circuit board and Next18 decoder socket.

We’re delighted to announce 'OO' gauge Great Eastern Railway-liveried Wisbech & Upwell Train Packs, comprising GER liveried ‘J70s’ and GER-liveried W&U bogie coaches.

When Model Rail commissioned the ‘J70’, it opted for LNER and BR liveries. In the days of the Great Eastern Railway, these tram locomotives (they were classified ‘C53’ then) and coaches wore matching liveries, creating a rather quaint little rural train.

Now, strictly speaking, the ‘C53s’ were goods engines but it’s highly likely that they would have been pressed into passenger service on the W&U when required.

Our friends at Model Rail have generously given us permission to produce a limited run of GER-liveried ‘C53s’ to complement GER-liveried W&U coaches. Here’s what we have planned:

SKU952001: Pre-1919 Train Pack, with GER No. 127. Before 1919, the locomotive were painted coach brown with ultramarine blue frames and they hauled coach brown tramcars.

SKU952002: Post-1919 Train Pack, with GER No. 125. After 1919, the locomotive livery changed to crimson and grey with the tramcars also being crimson.

RRP is £269.95 (DC/Silent). We also have sound-fitted packs (RRP £369.95) that feature a unique sound project supplied by Digitrains. The order deadline is December 1st 2022.

Both packs are available to order now either from your local Rapido UK stockist or by clicking on the button below:

Photograph: CHRIS NEVARD/MODEL RAIL

There are also still plenty of excellent Model Rail/Rapido Trains ‘OO’ gauge ‘J70s’ available, although four out of the ten versions have now sold out. Click here to browse the range or to place an order.

We’ve often been asked if we’ll ever produce an ‘O’ gauge model? The answer is ‘yes’ and we’re delighted to unveil this, the ‘O’ gauge ‘J70’ tram engine!

We’re planning to offer eight versions (which will either be available in silent or sound-fitted form):

RRP is £375.95 for a DC/Silent and £475.95 for a sound-fitted model.

There is a ‘but’ to this announcement. We’ve never done anything in ‘O’ gauge before and, being honest, it’s a risk for a new company like ours.

Therefore, at the moment, we’re only taking ‘expressions of interest’ (EOI) for this project. If you want an ‘O’ gauge ‘J70’, simply click here to register:

If we receive enough EOIs, we’ll start production and will contact you so that you can turn yours into an actual order for what promises to be a superb addition to the ranks of ready-to-run British-outline ‘O’ gauge models. Register here.

No. D2298 is a 'standard' Class 04, with 3ft 6in wheels and large cab windows. Built in 1960, it went new to Lincoln shed but was withdrawn in 1969. It was purchased by the Derwent Valley Light Railway, one of Britain's few independent railways. It worked the DVLR's last train in 1982 and was bought for use at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, arriving at Quainton later that year.

Say hello to our first ‘OO’ gauge diesel-outline locomotive: the Drewry 204hp 0-6-0DM, better known as Class 04.

It was the arrival of Drewry 204hp shunters in the spring of 1952 that meant that the W&U became BR’s first line to be fully dieselised. Steam operation officially ceased on July 4th that year, although one ‘J70’ was retained until March 1953 as a spare engine.

The ‘04’ is one of the few BR diesel classes not yet produced to contemporary standards in ‘OO’ and our new model is expected to boast all those features that modellers now demand, including lights, ‘plug & play’ DCC interface and factory-fitted sound-speaker.

D2203 requires a full overhaul at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. This was one of the original quartet, built with 3ft 3 1/2in wheels, small cab windows and, originally, no exhaust stack.

This will be a very complicated project, with many different detail options. Over the next few years, we plan to produce the first batch of ‘04s’ with 3ft 3 1/2in wheels and original cab design, the main production batch with 3ft 6in wheels and cab with larger windows as well as the Southern Region version too. Skirted and non-skirted options will also be available.

The project is at a very early stage and liveries and prices are yet to be confirmed. However, development work is underway and we have already undertaken a photographic survey of D2298, courtesy of the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre and D2203 at the Embassy & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.

We will, of course, produce Class 04s with side skirts so that the Wisbech & Upwell of the 1950s and 1960s can be modelled. D2201 trundles past Trafford House, between Boyce's Bridge Depot and Outwell Basin Depot, with a featherweight train in the mid-1960s.

I’ve never really had much call to explore the Fens south of Wisbech and so never had the opportunity to work out where the W&U actually ran. However, it’s only having to make the journey down to Rapido’s Kent HQ that I’ve become much more familiar with the route and can easily spot key locations.

There were a few places I couldn't quite identify and after an hour or so using Google Street View and the excellent maps in Chris Hawkins and George Reeve’s The Wisbech & Upwell Tramway, I was able to fill in the gaps.

But why not share this knowledge? I thought you might like to see what the W&U looks like today, 56 years after it closed.

All archive images are by Dr IC Allen (courtesy Transport Treasury) unless otherwise stated.

We start our journey at Wisbech East station…

1. D2201 brings a short train into Wisbech East station from the March end. This platform served W&U trains (the trackbed was raised to make accessing the coaches easier) with March-Magdalen Road trains using the two platforms to the right. The buffer stop on the left is on one of the W&U sidings, with the former depot area just out of shot. on the left. The signalbox box still proclaims Wisbech Station – it was not named Wisbech East until 1948. 

2. The W&U ran parallel with the March-Magdalen Road main line for a short distance before it swung south, crossing over Elm Road. To the right of the camera is the Wisbech canal, which was built in 1794-1795 as part of a plan to link the River Nene with the Great Ouse. It fell derelict in 1922. The W&U followed the canal for much of its length. The GER main line’s bridge over the canal is just to the right of the locomotive. On the road is a feast of Morrises: against the kerb is a Morris 8 Series 2 from about 1937 or '38, the van is a Morris Commercial J Type and the car with 'L' plates is most likely a Morris Isis.

3. The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society included a round-trip on the W&U as part of its ‘Fensman’ railtour on September 9th 1956. As there were no suitable coaches available, passengers had to ride in open wagons and, apparently, the weather that day was dreadful. This is New Common Bridge, looking back towards Wisbech, as the train heads for Upwell. Road and rail made a tight ‘S’ bend over the canal here.

4. One 12t van and a brake van is hardly a taxing load for D2202 as it trundles along Elm High Road, bound for Wisbech. The ornate building was originally part of Fred Wood's Brewery. There was originally a siding here but it was removed after the brewery, itself a former mill, burnt down in 1911. The remains were converted into this rather attractive house.

5. As the W&U was a tramway, all its level crossings were ungated. This one at Elm Bridge was a particular accident blackspot but all is quiet as what appears to be a Rover 90 (it could also be a Rover 60 or 75!) accelerates away from the sharp curve by the Blacksmiths Arms pub. Another pub, the Duke of Wellington is just out of shot on the inside of the bend, on the right.

6. Both Elm Bridge and Boyce’s Bridge Depots were on tight curves. Here, ‘J70’ No. 68217 hauls an interesting mix of wagons around the bend at Elm Bridge. Behind the locomotive is a Southern van, followed by two LMS-designed vans and there’s also a GWR van too. We think we’ve identified the curious short wheelbase vans with the curved brake levers but if you know for certain what they are, please let us know!

It’s only the little house with the three chimney pots - plus the sharp bend in the road - that give you any clue that this is Elm Bridge Depot. As with most locations along the route, new houses have sprung up and vegetation growth has obscured those important visual clues. Crossing the road here was very challenging!

7. Outwell Basin Depot was one of the few locations where the W&U ran through open country side. D2202 is crossing the small bridge over the Wisbech Canal at the south end of the yard, bound for Upwell. The very short 1-in-30 'hump' over the bridge caused heavy trains some issues at times.

8. The W&U re-joined the roadside on the outskirts of Outwell, where it was sandwiched between the A1101 and the Wisbech Canal, with the A1122 road running along the other bank of the canal. The pick-up is a late 1961 Standard 6cwt while the owner of one of the new bungalows to the left of the photograph has also spashed out on a Hillman Super Minx estate.

9. You get a good view of the moribund remains of the canal in this view of one of the Drewry shunters heading away from Outwell, bound for Wisbech. The clothes and the little Morris 6cwt van make this a real period piece.

10. D2202 draws a lengthy train across Well Creek and into Outwell Village Depot. The junction between Well Creek and the Wisbech Canal is beyond the small iron bridge. To the left of the telephone box was a passing loop, used in later years as a coal siding before it was removed in 1955. The post sticking out of the water on the right hand bank was the remains of one of two chutes that enabled coal to be transferred to waiting barges.

11. This end of Outwell Village Depot is one of the most photogenic spots on the whole line. Judging by the county boundary marker, D2201’s nose is in Cambridgeshire while its cab is still in Norfolk. The Morris Minor is parked outside the former GER goods office.

12. Journey’s end: this is Upwell Depot and despite the run-down nature, coal still plays an important role here, judging by the 16t mineral wagons and the Bedford TK and (what appears to be) Dennis Pax coal lorries. Passenger trains once terminated on the tracks that D2202 is standing on.

Phew, what an exciting issue that was!

Join us next time for something a little smaller...

Richard