Before we go any further, let's take a moment to reflect on one of the most important days of the year: Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the US. Tomorrow is a day to stop and honour all of our armed forces, who sacrificed everything, in World War I, World War II, and other conflicts. We also honour all men and women who continue to serve and protect.

So place your poppy in a visible location and salute those who have served. Today is your day. From our family at Rapido, hats off, we salute you.

This week is Rapido's official 18th anniversary. While Jason did start the company when he was living in England in 2003, he did not incorporate until November 8, 2004.

For many years, Rapido was just Jason, Bill, and Dan Garcia. Janet joined once or twice a week. More importantly, I joined in 2020. Now we're a big team and Janet is the Chief Financial Officer. She also does yoga.

Even though we've grown to be one of the larger model train manufacturers in North America (with a tangible presence in the UK), the company is still run by model railroaders for model railroaders. Out of the 30-plus people who work at Rapido in Canada, the USA and the UK, all but five are model railroaders.

I think one of the reasons that we've grown so much in the last few years is that we are just making the stuff that we want, and a lot of you want it too. (Ed: Well said!)

Here's to another 18 years!

The Barrel Ore Hoppers were probably the most unique cars that ran in Ontario, maybe even all of Canada, during their time. Their construction was similar to a cylindrical hopper but had an unusual roof hatch mechanism that would be forced open at the loadout. The reason for the enclosed car was to keep the ore pellets, which were the size of marbles, dry enroute. This was easier for the facilities to process, especially in freezing temperatures.

Two styles of cars were built: the 35' "Short Barrel" and the 42' "Long Barrel," in 1967 and 1971, respectively. Of the 382 cars built (both long and short versions), Canadian National owned 75% while Ontario Northland owned 25%. This was proportioned to the mileage these cars operated over. Each version had their own unique set of details that made them stand out.

Want to see a video explaining these cars? Click here or the photo above to watch!

We are proud to offer both versions of the Barrel Ore Hoppers, in highly detailed form. No, let me repeat HIGHLY DETAILED, just like their HO cousins! If pictures are worth a thousand words, then these images are worth ten thousand! (Scroll down!)

The Barrel Ore Hopper features:

These cars might be really small, but they make up for it in details!

Don't forget, we also offer the long and short cars in undecorated form. Be sure to check them out and all of the other schemes by clicking the photo of the catalogue below!

As you can see we have first factory samples that ROCK, so we can already announce that the order deadline is February 15, 2023. Click here for more info or to order direct! In the meantime, keep checking back for updates or watch our Facebook page.

And just like that, it's now November. In this month we have: the HO Scale Northeastern Design Caboose, the HO Scale GN 12-panel 40' Boxcars and the N Scale Flexi Flo Hopper.

The Northeastern Design Caboose was arguably one of the most popular and most notable caboose designs in the northeastern anthracite railroad scene. You can't model any of these roads without having at least two or eight.

Let's check out the video before we go any further. Click here or the photo below to watch. (See if you can spot the ladder on the sample that came loose. Bill didn't!)

They're looking good! Just a note, some details can change before production. Now, scroll down for the schemes being offered on the first run.

Now, let's check out the catalog below by clicking on the photo to open in PDF form.

The Northeastern Design Caboose is almost ready for production! The order deadline is set for November 15th, 2022, just a few days away. So, get your orders in for these versatile cabooses!

The Great Northern Railway's boxcar fleet was one of the most colorful fleets in all of railroading. And with the power of 3D renders, we have some to show you!

Rapido's model of the HO Scale GN 12-Panel 40' Boxcar will certainly have the insane amount of details and build quality as our other freight cars. We've worked closely with the Great Northern Railway Historical Society to ensure we make this car as accurate as possible.

Please note that this photographed car is a Frankenstein of details. Production run cars will have the proper prototype details for each paint scheme. I would not want to be a brakeman trying to reach that brake wheel... Pre-production samples are subject to revision.

Eight GN schemes to pick from! And these GN 40' Boxcars are certainly colorful. Scroll down to see the schemes and variations.

Rocky the Goat wants you to go check out the sales catalog for the GN Boxcars. Click the photo below to open up the PDF.

The order deadline for the HO Scale GN Boxcars has been set for November 15th, 2022. Are you ready? Get ready to round up all of your orders!

The N Scale Flexi Flo is looking fantastic and the samples are proof! The order deadline, November 15th, 2022, is just a few days away. So mark your calendars! In the meantime, let's take a peek at the video! Click here, or the photo below to watch.

These N Scale Flexi-Flo samples sure look sharp, right?

Now, if you're ready, scroll down to see ALL 12 schemes plus two painted, unlettered cars being offered on the initial run.

Check out the N Scale Flexi Flo catalog by clicking the photo below. It will open in PDF form for your enjoyment.

November 15th is right around the corner. So, make sure you have all of your N Scale Flexi Flo orders in by that date. Then get ready to own one of the most detailed freight cars ever produced in N scale!

It's almost December which means we are ready to announce four new order deadlines: the HO Scale Union Pacific 40' ACR Boxcars, the HO Scale Budd Slumbercoach, the N Scale Procor 5820 Covered Hopper Car and the N Scale ATSF RR-56/60/61 Reefers.

The HO Scale Union Pacific 40' "ACR" Boxcar is here. “ACR” is short for “alternating center rivet.” These cars used lighter-weight side sheeting to lower unladen weight, which required an extra row of side support posts for added support. These in turn required an extra row of rivets to attach the sides to the posts, giving a unique pattern. We're making three classes of these unique cars: the B-50-39, 41 and 42.

We should have new samples before the order deadline, so please subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our UP boxcar video when it drops.

Want to know what features go into an HO Scale UP 40' ACR Boxcar? You're in luck! Check them out:

There are five Union Pacific schemes being offered on the initial run. Scroll down to see them.

Ready to look through the UP ACR Catalog? It has everything you need to know when placing your orders. Click the photo below to check it out!

Excited for the UP 40' ACR Boxcars? Mark your calendars, December 15th, 2022 is the order deadline. Until then, order away!

The HO Scale Budd Slumbercoach has been a bit of an odyssey since it was announced way back in late 2021. In fact lots has changed since then, plus we even visited one at the Illinois Railway Museum in October. You can watch that video by clicking here or the photo above and below.

Now let's take a look at some of the Budd Slumbercoach pre-production samples.

Jason says that some people have told us "I already have a Slumbercoach model. I don't need yours." Well I'm sure these guys "already had" a Cox F7, but they replaced it when better stuff came out. We hope you will all give your passenger car fleet some love!

Here we compare our Slumbercoach detail with the detail on the Slumbercoach some guys "already have."

Our HO Scale Slumbercoach features include:

Check out the schemes being offered below.

Time for the Budd Slumbercoach catalog! Click on the photo below to download it.

It's time. December 15th, 2022 is the HO Scale Slumbercoach order deadline. We have the samples, we have the video, now we just need you to send over the orders!

The Procor 5820 Covered Hopper Car in N Scale should be a big draw, since you are almost guaranteed to see at least three or four in any manifest. (If you don't have a mainline near you, close your eyes and pretend...)

Since we have awesome looking samples, this means December 15th, 2022 will be the order deadline. Mark your calendars now. But before we check out more of the pre-production samples, check out the new video with Max, I mean Jeremy Headspace. Click here, the photo above or below to watch.

Now let's check out those N Scale 5820 Hopper samples! We bet you they'll make you want a bunch!

In case you weren't aware, Spring Creek Model Trains is running an exclusive for this neat all-blue Procor variant. Check out how to order one by clicking here or the photo below.

Time to check out the next image, that shows the nine 5820 Covered Hopper Car schemes.

Click the photo below to scroll through the road and item numbers being offered on this run.

Now before you bolt out of your chair to order your N Scale Procor 5820 Covered Hopper Car fleet, we should let you know, again, that the order deadline is December 15th, 2022. That's a mere month away, so make sure you have your orders tabbed and ready!

N Scale ATSF RR-56 Reefer!

The RR-56 class of refrigerator cars were "all purpose" Mechanical Temperature Control (MTC) style cars. Not only were they a pleasant orange color, but they also wore many slogans of the ATSF. These were by far some of the most iconic reefer cars of the time. And now these are headed for a December 15th, 2022 order deadline.

But you want more details, you say. We can deliver that! Click here, the photo above or below to watch the new video. Did we mention Jeremy Headspace is in it?

Yes! We have N Scale RR-56 Reefer samples to show! Check them out below.

Now it is time for those N Scale RR-56 Reefer paint schemes! Scroll down to see each with the appropriate slogan it wears.

Need those item and road numbers? Maybe you just want to scan over the pretty catalog. You can do all that and more by clicking the photo below to download the RR-56 Reefer catalog.

On December 15th, 2022, the order deadline comes and goes. Once that happens, we'll send the N Scale RR-56 Reefer off to production. In the meantime, please click here for more info or to order direct!

Lots of new photos, arrivals and those new jobs! Plus much more for this edition of Second Section, November 2022. So off we go!

Can you believe Trainfest 2022 is this weekend? Come visit the Rapido booth to see all of the samples we have in the flesh! That's on November 12th to the 13th, 2022 (this weekend) at the Wisconsin State Fair Park.

When we were at the Illinois Railway Museum in October, we launched a bunch of new projects. To recap all of them, here is a video featuring Jordan and Jeremy. Although Jeremy seems to be acting a bit strange... Click here, the photo above or below to find out why!

And how can we forget the HO Scale 5820 Procor Covered Hopper unboxing video! Let Jordan walk you through all of the features to this highly detailed and much needed pellet hopper. Click here or the photo above to watch.

Whoa! Take a look at the GP9RM and the Canadian Flatcars and Trailers!

Have a look at some of the latest photos from our factories!

That HO Scale GP9RM and the Slug look absolutely fabulous! Remember though, this is an early sample, with details subject to revision.

Here's a closer look at the HO Scale Slug. This is an early sample, details are subject to revision.

Check out the early samples of the Canadian Flatcars!

Those Canadian Flatcars sure look good. But they look even better with the Canadian Trailers.

Those Canadian Flatcars sure look good. But they look even better with the Canadian Trailers. I'm getting a feeling of déjà vu...

Those Canadian Flatcars sure look good. But they look even better with the Canadian Trailers. I'm getting a feeling of déjà vu...

The Phase III RTL Powercar. Ready to take those passengers up and down the Hudson.

Here's the Phase III Turboliner Coaches.

And here's the X2000 Powercars. They're looking nifty!

FPA-2us anyone? They're in production now!

The HO Scale Angus Vans are also in production now!

And of course we can't forget the New Haven County cars!

That's a lot of County Car seats!

Rapido Trains Inc. is looking for a skilled Digital Marketing & eCommerce Manager to manage our company's e-commerce platform and related processes. The Manager will oversee the Rapido website and day-to-day e-commerce operations, and will be responsible for ensuring our e-commerce website, backend ERP and financial systems are functional, up-to-date and operational to support our e-commerce customers.

This is a multidisciplinary role, requiring a strategic view of Rapido customers and their needs for the website. To be successful as a Digital Marketing & eCommerce Manager, you need to be able to work well collaborating with various departments across Rapido. With responsibilities for the company’s website and e-commerce platform, you will also need to work closely with our various partners.

We are looking for a full-time warranty technician and customer service person to work here at our Markham office fixing model trains and helping customers. Our warranty return rate is between 1% and 2%, but even that represents hundreds of models a year and we're always swamped. Required skills include:

Want to help out seeing Rapido's latest product before anyone else gets to see it? That's the job of the Warehouse Assistant! You will need experience with Microsoft Office (Excel/Word) and QuickBooks or other database software. This is an opportunity to work at an exciting and growing model train company and be a part of the fun. If you do like model trains, you get a very nice employee discount on Rapido products!

We must note that this job needs to be on-site at the Markham office. And it does not pay enough for you to move here from Hawaii.

Here's what the job entails:

It also entails:

Another action-packed newsletter comes to a close. Keep those order deadline dates in mind and also we would like to wish all of our American friends a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving weekend coming up! Tune back in early December; we'll have some more news for you then!

Until next time,

Bobby

The Grandest Poobah of Newsletter

And KEEP ORDERING those F40PHM-2s