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Rapido Newsletter Vol. 198
©2025 Rapido Trains Inc.
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Dear Rapido Customer,
Outside the temperatures might be below freezing, but we've got some new announcements that'll heat you up! Three big announcements and six major order deadlines... but thankfully this is a pretty quiet week, otherwise! 👀
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In this 198th issue...
- GP39 and SWMT Slug Update!
- New Product Announcements
- February Order Deadlines
- New Videos
- Upcoming Shows
- Tooling, Factory and Shipping Updates
- Update On the Corrected Burlington Northern C30-7 Locomotives
- Tariff Update
If you are using a web-based email service such as Gmail, be sure to click on the link near the bottom of the email that says something like "[Message clipped] View entire message". That will ensure you don't miss any of this newsletter.
Please note that all renders, pre-production samples and artwork are subject to change before the final product release.
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HO Scale GP39 and SWMT Slug Update
The HO Scale GP39 and SWMT Slug have had a scheme change to one of the roadnumbers. We'll list it below:
CSX 4286 and SWMT Slug 1024 now becomes CSX 4299 and SWMT Slug 1041. This is for SKUs: DC/Non-Sound - 39029 and DCC/Sound - 39529.
The SWMT Slug is now in the "b" scheme, while the GP39 stays in YN2. We've updated the catalog and the website, which you can check out below!
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New Announcements
We can't wait for you to see the new announcement samples and 3D printed versions at the Springfield Show this weekend. Make sure to stop by to grab photos, check out our sales packs, schemes and chat with the Rapido team! All the project managers of these new models will be at our booth.
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NEW MODEL! HO Scale ACF Helium Car
The wait is over for a high quality HO Scale ACF Helium Car! No more stand-ins, expert-level (though gorgeous) kits, or crudely detailed cars — the Rapido helium car packs lots of features, durability and best of all, three paint scheme varieties plus an unlettered version so you can roll your own railroad (of lies).
Did we mention we have a hand-painted, pre-production sample? Check out the photos above and below. Thanks to Dan Darnell for his beautiful painting and lettering.
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Separate piping on both the underbody and the separately applied grab irons and door rods!
As mentioned, this is a hand-painted and decaled pre-production sample.
| The use of blimps by the US Navy and Air Corps began prominently during World War I. At that time, these airships were filled with hydrogen, a flammable gas that was easily extractable. This ultimately led to the adoption of helium, which was sourced from gas fields in Texas, Oklahoma, and Southern Kansas. Helium tank cars could be seen across the country, including states like California, Massachusetts, Florida, and New Jersey. | The painted sample above shows off all of the exquisite lettering. The unpainted version below, gives you an idea of the level of detail on each model, plus the etched metal brake platform and hanger. | |
American Car & Foundry (ACF) produced the fourth, fifth, and seventh generations of helium cars, building a total of 120 cars between February 1955 and September 1961. Each of these 100-ton cars contained 30 individual high-pressure tanks, which could be filled and emptied from the end cabinets.
Remarkably, a single car could fill more than two L Class blimps. That's A LOT of gas! During the infamous space race, NASA regularly utilized these cars. Although after 1969 the demand for them diminished, these cars would still be utilized for at least another 30+ years in regular service!
Here are some more hand-painted, pre-production photos of the ACF Helium Car!
| Those tanks look amazing! The stainless steel roofwalks are exquisite, as is the rivet detail on the sides. | A closer look at that stainless steel roofwalk. Below, the underbody shows off all of that incredible piping and bottom of the tanks. | |
Here are the HO Scale ACF Helium Car features:
- Newly tooled from original blueprints and measurements
- Highly detailed underbody detail and piping
- Separate metal grab irons
- Stainless steel roofwalk
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- Free-rolling trucks with profiled metal wheelsets
- Available as single car or six-packs unless noted
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
And now for the "fifty shades of silver and/or gray" schemes, which you can observe below. The order deadline is April 15, 2025!
| Ready to order your ACF Helium Car? You can do so below, by clicking the button. Order one, two or ten! | |
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NEW VERSION! HO Scale Amtrak® P32AC-DM Locomotive
We finally are answering the call! The Amtrak® HO Scale P32AC-DM is here! Now, all of your Empire Service® passenger trains can finally have the correct power pulling them up and down the Hudson River.
Check out these awesome 3D CAD renders of the Phase III version. Don't they look great?
3D CAD artwork is conceptual only, not a final design. Though it's pretty final...
| Perhaps Amtrak's most popular scheme? | Note the Amtrak details specific to their P32AC-DMs. Most notably, the short air tanks. | |
Dual-powered locomotives are nothing new to New York passenger operations. Since the early 1900s, the main concern was diesel emissions inside the tunnels that led to Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station. In the mid-1990s, Amtrak® was looking to replace their aging fleet of EMD FL9s with a modern dual-mode diesel. Enter the GE P32AC-DM “Genesis” Series II locomotive. Amtrak® would order 18 of these units for their Empire Service® operations.
These locomotives have worn a number of schemes from Phase III, Phase IV, Phase V and now back to a Phase III variant, funded by the state of New York.
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Two Phase III P32AC-DMs sit next to a CF7 — a consist you will soon be able to create with super-detailed Rapido models!
Photo by Jim Conroy, courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection.
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Amtrak 708 races south through Garrison, New York, on the Hudson Line.
Photo courtesy of Bobby Allard.
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Check out the HO Scale P32AC-DM Locomotive features:
- Newly tooled from blueprints and measurements
- Many unique dual-mode underbody components
- Krupp-MaK High Speed Bolsterless Truck with third rail shoe detail
- Piping detail never seen before on a Genesis model
- ATC/Cab signal under-pilot detail (ACSES box)
- P32AC-DM rounded grille over rear radiator
- Nose and rear HEP plugs
- Operating headlight, ditch lights, and marker lights
- Step lights
- Separately applied wire grabs
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
- DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound - ESU LokSound V5 Decoder
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
Amtrak-specific features:
- Unique antenna array
- Original and retrofitted nose options
- Short air tanks
- Third rail shoes disengaged
Two schemes on the initial run, but everyone loves Phase III!
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Load up on the P32AC-DM today by ordering them in bulk! You can do so by clicking the buttons below. We will announce an order deadlins as soon as we get some samples. We started tooling before Chinese New Year so hopefully we should have those samples in March or April. | |
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P32AC-DM Masterclass
Want more info on the history of the P32AC-DM, head over to our P32AC-DM Masterclass by clicking here.
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New Roadnames: HO Scale FA-1 and FB-1 Locomotive
The popular Alco FA-1 and FB-1 Locomotives have returned! We're bringing you ELEVEN NEW schemes and variations to pick from. Included is a unique LIRR "power pack" version. So, let's roll right into the FA history. But first, a photo of the nose showing off the correct nose contour we 3D scanned for the initial run.
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In the mid-1940s through the late 1950s, Alco sold nearly 700 examples of the FA-1 and FB-1 Models to 25 railroads in the US, Canada and Mexico. These venerable locomotives saw regular mainline service right up to the late 1970s. Some managed to continue into the 1980s and 90s in passenger service. This was the case on the Long Island Rail Road, albeit with the prime mover removed for use as a "control car."
More photos from the initial run, below!
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Here are the HO Scale FA-1 and FB-1 features:
- Correct nose and windshield contours, scanned from sister loco FPA-4
- Flat or angled number boards as appropriate
- Dynamic and non-dynamic brake versions
- Etched side and fan screens
- Heavy, die-cast chassis
- 5-pole motor with dual flywheels
- Operating headlights, class lights and back-up lights
- Full underbody piping and conduit
- Separate grab irons and handrails
- Many road-specific details installed or included
- Full, multi-color interior
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
- DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound - ESU LokSound V5 Decoder
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
As mentioned, there are eleven schemes on this run. The last three schemes at the bottom come as single A units. All others have options for single A or A+B sets!
| Order the HO Scale FA-1 and FB-1 locos before the order deadline of April 15, 2025. You can do so below or at your favorite dealer! | |
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You may be wondering, why do we have so many order deadlines in one month? We found last year that we needed to close the order deadline for products in February if we wanted them to 100% for sure arrive before Christmas. We can squeeze in a couple more in March and April and they might arrive in time. But we want the models below to arrive for sure this year.
These models will not arrive all at once but spread out from summer to the end of the year. So you don't have to worry about them all hitting your wallet in the same month.
- HO Scale C36-7 Locomotive
- HO Scale SD7/9/10 Locomotive
- HO Scale 44-Tonner Locomotive
- HO Scale Greenbrier Transverse Coil Car
- HO Scale NSC Ballast Hopper
- N Scale SP Dome Lounge
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HO Scale C36-7 Locomotive
Our all-new HO Scale GE C36-7 Locomotive now has an order deadline set for February 17th, 2025. Did you know that this is the first ready-to-run plastic version of a C36-7?
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Our first HO Scale C36-7 samples will be debuting at the Springfield Show this weekend. Stop by and check them out. If you are reading this after the show or cannot attend, keep tabs on our Facebook page, as we'll be taking plenty of photos of them next week. Until then, above is a photo the factory snapped before they left.
Below are the schemes for the initial run.
| Have you reserved your C36-7 Locomotives yet? If not, you can do so below. | |
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HO Scale SD7/9/10 Locomotive
The HO Scale SD7 / 9 / 10 Locomotive project finally has an order deadline, which is February 17th, 2025. It's been a long wait, but these are almost ready to go into production. Stay tuned, we'll be showing off pre-production samples in an upcoming newsletter and on our Facebook before the order deadline.
Below are the different schemes we are offering. And we can't forget to mention to tell you that the conditional SD10 schemes SOO Line and DM&E are no longer conditional! Thunderbirds are GO!
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Make sure to reserve your SD7/9/10 by ordering below or through your favorite dealer. This will be a very popular item, so don't miss out! | |
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NEW! HO Scale 44-Tonner Locomotive
The HO Scale 44-Tonner is nearing the February 17th order deadline! In addition to the classic schemes and phases being offered, we also have Phase Ia and Ib. We're super excited that we adding more to the 44-Tonner line. Our first run sold out, so you want to preorder these ASAP!
Scroll through the schemes being offered on this run — we even start it off with the NYO&W!
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The 44-Tonner is one heavy hauler, so that means it's time to dig deep and lift up all of those orders into the order bin. Delivery will be late 2025. Please place your order today!
Also please remember if you are reserving a replacement SP shell from the first run, you need to tell us before the February 17th order deadline or you are out of luck!
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HO Scale Greenbrier Transverse Coil Car
What started out as a personal kitbash has turned into a full-blown Rapido project! The HO Scale Greenbrier Transverse Coil Car is almost ready to become a real model you can own. We have an order deadline set for the 17th of February — which means a sample is arriving soon now at the Springfield Show! If you're visiting the show, stop by to see it. If you can't make it, we'll be posting photos of it once we can on our Facebook.
Until then, here are the initial run schemes. Don't forget the popular Railroad of Lies (ROLX) at the end!
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Those steel mills and finishing plants will need all the cars they can get! That means the more cars ready for service, the better! You can order them by the hundreds below. | |
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HO Scale NSC Ballast Hopper
The new run of HO Scale NSC Ballast Hoppers is set to close out on February 17th. This popular workhorse of a freight car would be right at home on your layout, snuggled in a general freight or dedicated ballast service! This new run includes all-new roadnumbers plus two new schemes.
Next newsletter we'll have a closer look at the details. For now, take a look at the excellent selection of schemes below.
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If your layout needs some MOW work or just a bit of ballast, these hoppers are for you! You can order them below. | |
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N Scale Southern Pacific Dome Lounge
The iconic Southern Pacific Dome Lounge Car also has a February 17th order deadline. We're super excited to get this project into production, but before that, we have NEW pre-production samples to show you. Check them out above and below!
| Lots of detail to be seen! The side fluting, the interior and underbody boxes. | The underbody showing off the insane level of detail. | And now for the Southern Pacific Dome Lounge Car schemes! Scroll down to check them out. | |
Get your orders in for this iconic passenger car. You can do so by clicking the button below. | |
Perhaps one of the nicest locomotives we've ever made now has an unboxing video. Click here or watch the C30-7 video above! | |
Ready to fly away with the UAC Turbo 2.0? It includes a special visit from some green dude from Venus or Mars or something. Click here or on the image above to watch! | |
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2025 Railroad Hobby Show - Springfield 2025
The annual Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show is back and will take place on January 25th and the 26th (that's this weekend!) in West Springfield, Massachusetts. We will display nearly every sample we have and you can have a friendly conversation with our Project Managers. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Tooling, Shipping and Arrival Updates
LOTS of new items will be arriving soon!
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Update On the Corrected Burlington Northern C30-7 Locomotives
Good news, our color-corrected BN C30-7 Locomotives are rolling out to dealers and customers right now! Sit tight, you'll finally have your much-anticipated C30-7 in hand in the next couple of weeks. Thank you again for your patience.
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Before signing off I want to remind you about our plan for possible tariffs. If 25% tariffs are applied on goods leaving Canada for the US, we will hold our US shipments until the tariffs are reduced or removed. Should tariffs be in effect and you want your models really quickly and don't mind paying the tariffs, please contact us at that time.
Another newsletter in the books. Until then, see you in February where we'll have a plethora of order deadlines to discuss. Come visit us in Springfield!
Bobby Allard
Newsletter Reporter
Reporting live from the depths of Antarctica
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USA: PO Box 796, Higganum, CT 06441
Canada: 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, ON L3R 5H5
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