Rapido Newsletter Vol. 201

©2025 Rapido Trains Inc.

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Dear Rapido Customer,

Welcome to March! In this newsletter we have a plethora of super important order deadlines, updates and new model photos.

In this 201st issue...

• Company Updates — Warranty, Warehouse/International Relations, etc.
• Rapido and Me
• HO Scale SD7, 9 and 10 Locomotive — Order Deadline March 10th
• IMPORTANT Roadnumber Changes!
• Exclusive Models
• March Order Deadlines
• April Order Deadlines
• Tooling, Factory and Shipping Updates
• Recent Rapido on The Ocean



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.

Company Updates

Hi Everyone,

Jason here. We have a lot of housekeeping news to share with you. First off, I have a sincere request.

In these uncertain times, I encourage you to continue placing your preorders with Rapido and with your other model train manufacturers.

If all goes well, current trade challenges will be resolved long before these new products arrive. Should tariffs continue to be enforced on Chinese-made goods and be exorbitantly high, you can always cancel your order when the models arrive. However, by preordering now, you secure your chance to get the models you want, especially in the event that tariffs are reduced or removed in the future.

Please, my friends, keep preordering your model trains.

WARRANTY STUFF

Our long-time lead service dude, Dave O'Neill, has retired. We wish him the best as he plays with the trains rather than fixing them. We've finally found three new warranty technicians so we can start to get our heads above water.

Over the next few weeks we will catch up on all the warranty parts and repair requests. We are also instituting a new warranty policy, so people will no longer be able to send our warranty team various 18-year-old passenger cars they picked up at swap meets. The warranty will apply for two years after you buy a new Rapido model. If the model has been in the store for a really long time and it has an issue, we will do our best! Click here to see the new policy changes.

Any non-warranty parts and repairs will now come with the labour cost, which is currently being determined. We are also setting up the new process to intake these requests. Check back on our warranty page or our newsletter for when we open this up for new non-warranty requests.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Here's the latest update on international trade relations as it pertains to your favourite model train manufacturer.

We're moving to Buffalo!

Starting in April, we're splitting up our US and Canadian operations. The Canadian Rapido will continue to operate from our galactic HQ in Markham, north of Toronto.

The American Rapido will be based in our new office and warehouse in Buffalo, New York. However, the administration of the US company will still be in Markham. 

Inventory of American prototypes will be primarily at the US warehouse, and inventory of Canadian prototypes will be primarily at the Canadian warehouse. We're still ironing out the details of how this is going to work in terms of ordering stuff that is already in stock. We're hoping to ship out our first products from the new warehouse in early April.

WE'RE HIRING!

We're looking for an office and warehouse manager for our Buffalo office. This new dude or dudette will:

• run the office, including making sure all bills are paid
• receive shipments from China and Canada
• pick and pack shipments for US, Canadian and international destinations
• manage all our logistics
• inspect shipments when they arrive from China and liaise with our project management team to ensure good quality
• handle customer inquiries at the US office
• manage a warehouse assistant and arrange for temporary warehouse employees when needed
• do some sales and "check in" calls to customer, when things are slow in between shipments
• work out of our Buffalo (High Street) building

Start date is late March.

Ideally we want to hire a model railroader, but experience running an office/warehouse is more important. If you are interested, please email your cover letter and resume to us by clicking here. (jobs@rapidotrains.com)

TARIFFS

We believe very strongly in being totally open with you, even about such a hot-button topic like tariffs.

The tariffs applied on imports from China are a moving target. We have to pass on the charges to our customers. Because we primarily sell through distributors and retailers, we do not have a high enough margin to swallow any tariffs.

As I've mentioned before, for the time being we will keep the tariffs as a separate line item on our invoices for our American orders only, rather than just increasing our prices. That way, when the tariffs are removed, we can remove the extra charge. These tariffs do not affect Canadian customers.

Please bear in mind that if we've already imported a product and are about to ship it out to you and the tariffs are then removed, we still have to charge you the tariff as we've already paid it. Moving our warehouse to Buffalo is a huge step for us, but it will ease the tariff burden on our customers as it reduces the amount we have to pass on to you.

We've looked at all our costs and our discount structure to our stores and distributors and we've calculated that for every 10% tariff on Chinese goods imposed by the government, we only have to add a 4.8% tariff charge to your bill. That means, if the tariff is 20%, we have to add 9.6%. It's still a pain, but it's a bit more manageable and we absorb 52% of the cost.

We sincerely hope that this volatile financial situation is short lived and we can get back to normal business operation again. But we're staying in Buffalo for the long haul, as we believe that's a smart business move, tariffs or no tariffs.

Thanks again to everyone for your understanding.

Now over to you, Bobby!

Rapido and Me — Customer Photo Submissions

Hey there! Check out some of the recent photo submissions we've received from our friends. Remember, you too can be featured in Rapido and Me. You just have to send them to us at trains@rapidotrains.com or tag us on social media (and not in a story that will disappear after 24 hours!).

Here's three for this month.

This neat photo of a BART train running through a city scene was sent to us from Joseph Cliscagne. It was taken at the Antioch Model Railroad Club.

Here's a New Haven RDC stopping at Kent, Connecticut, sent to us from our friend Rick Abramson on his massive New Haven layout.

An Erie-Lackawanna passenger train hustles past two U25Bs on a freight. The Super Continental passenger cars look great behind that E8! Photo by Gary Blay.

HO Scale SD7/9/10 Locomotive — Order Deadline March 10th

The HO Scale SD7/9/10 Locomotive project was supposed to close out on Thursday but lo and behold it's Friday and we're still working on this newsletter! So the deadline is now the 10th (so we will let you squeak in those last-minute orders)! And we have TWO very big surprises: photos of the pre-production samples and a video! Click here or the photo above to watch.

HOLD ON! We also need to announce a few roadnumber changes that affect the Milwaukee Road and Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern SD10 Locomotives These changes reflect the body styles we currently have to better match each locomotive on this run.

Milwaukee Road:

• 50232/50632 was roadnumber 550 now becomes 552

Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern:

• 50237/50637 was roadnumber 548, now becomes 549, "City of Harrold"
• 50237/50637 was roadnumber 550, now becomes 558, "City of Huron"

Check out the new artworks, below for these changes.

Now, here are the brand-new 3D CAD renders of these amazing SD7/9/10 Locomotives! We even added lighting effects to each one to give you a better idea of how they'll look. Enjoy!

Four of our forthcoming SDs!

Our three oddball SD noses!

The CB&Q SD9. Complete with Mars light, footboards and spark arrestors.

Notice also the taller cab and short hood!

Unusual and unique models? Try the Milwaukee Road SD10 Locomotive. Most of their SD7s and SD9s were rebuilt in the mid-1970s at the Milwaukee Road Shops in Wisconsin. The idea was to extend the life of these venerable engines with their front high short hood chopped down, cab modified and Horst air intakes added.

The Milwaukee Road SD10 rebuild.

This is the SOO "bandit" patch-out SD10.

Note the faded/grimy black patch-outs and the famous SOO Line wordmark.

The CNW chopped nose SD9. The dynamic brakes have been removed and a large all weather window added.

The Rapido HO Scale SD7, SD9 and SD10 Locomotive features:

• Measured from a living SD9 
• Road-specific details for each model variant 
• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
• Operating headlights, rear lights, white class lights AND beacons (where appropriate)
• Highly detailed cab interior
• Correct fuel and water tank arrangements per road
• Multiple styles of stepwells
• See-through, etched steps
• Multiple dynamic-brake hatches
• High short hood and modified ‘chopped’ short hood where appropriate
• Appropriate cab or nose headlights
• Mo-Power capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
• Suggested minimum radius: 22"

But wait, we have road by road details for each!

Baltimore & Ohio

• Correctly oriented cab interior for long hood forward operation
• Single fuel tank (First time done on a plastic model!)

Burlington Northern

• Former CBQ units (Phase IV, first time for a plastic model!)
• Correct 5-step, BN walkway

Colorado and Southern / Chicago, Burlington & Quincy

• Phase IV (First time for a plastic model!)
• Higher short hood with corresponding cab height
• Cornered-off section on the long hood behind the cab
• Two 48" radiator fans as opposed to the normal (four) 36" fans
• Conduit pipes removed from top of radiator
• No ladders on short hood end

Chicago & North Western

• Rebuilt at the Oelwein Shops with chopped down nose - a first in HO Scale!
• Modified panels on side sills of locomotive
• Modified/plated over details of dynamic brake blister (Smooth plating over where grilles once were)

Milwaukee Road

• SD10 model designation given by the Milwaukee Road for their capital rebuild program of their old SD7s and SD9s
• A first in HO Scale plastic models
• Single fuel tank
• Chopped short hood and modified cab
• Later style Horst air intake
• Rotary beacon

SOO Line

• Ex-MILW units / same features

Dakota Minnesota & Eastern

• Ex-SOO, nee-MILW units - same features
• DME 558 now features Donaldson Air Filters — a new part we're tooling!

Get your orders in for the SD7/9/10 like, right now! You won't want to miss these popular locomotives. You can make sure you have each one you want by clicking the button below.

HO Scale 44-Tonner Spotlight — Middletown & New Jersey

The Middletown and New Jersey Railroad (M&NJ) is a cult short line in Orange County, New York. Its 44-Tonners were well loved by railfans, but they need some more love from model railroaders. This is our weakest seller despite being one of the most colorful and interesting paint schemes.

Please show M&NJ some love. Also show Greater Winnipeg Water District some love, as it's our second-lowest performer.

If we had an order for every request we received for this bright and cheery paint scheme, it would be doing fine. But we now believe there is a fleet of chatbots scouring the internet with the obscure goal of making manufacturers think GWWD is popular. Jason loves Winnipeg, so we're still making it. But please do us a huge favour and order some more.

Exclusive Models

Have you heard about some of the exclusive models we offer in conjunction with dealers, hobby shops and organizations?

Otter Valley Railroad Exclusive 44-Tonner Locomotives

Otter Valley Railroad is offering two schemes of the HO Scale 44-Tonner Locomotive. Canadian National no. 1 is in the black and yellow scheme with the hi-hat number board. They are also offering the Port Stanley Terminal Railroad's "Winnie" in the neat light green, black and yellow. To order one of these locomotives, click here or the photo above.

Trainworld Exclusive 44-Tonner Locomotive

Trainworld has signed up to offer a classic HO Scale 44-Tonner in the iconic New York Dock Railway scheme. In this exclusive there will be three roadnumbers offered: 51, 52 and 54. Operating in the dockyards of New York City, these venerable locomotives would shunt cars to the warehouses, down the streets and onto barges. These would fit right at home on a small urban/dock switching layout!

To get in on these, click here or the photo above.

HobbyTyme 44-Tonner Locomotives

HobbyTyme of Connecticut will be offering the HO Scale 44-Tonner Locomotive in four different schemes: Vermont Railway, The Connecticut Company, The Nickel Plate Road and the Omaha, Lincoln and Beatrice Railway.

The Vermont Railway version will be in the famous red scheme with white trim, wearing roadnumber "1".

The Connecticut Company was an electric street running operation within the state of Connecticut. This 44-Tonner wears roadnumber 0809 and is painted in an attractive blue and white scheme.

The NKP 44-Tonner has gold striping on a black palette, similar to their road units. They will offer the number "90", which also features the headlight visors.

And last but not least is the Omaha, Beatrice and Lincoln's 101. The "Big Red Line" is a fan favorite in Nebraska. Their equipment all wore a logo that resembled a football helmet, which paid homage to their beloved University of Nebraska "Cornhuskers".

In order to reserve one of these, click here or the photo above to find out which dealers work with HobbyTyme.

• HO Scale Super Continental Passenger Cars
• HO Scale 1937 AAR Boxcars

HO Scale Super Continental Passenger Cars

The HO Scale Super Continental Passenger Cars are just about to close out their order deadline. These cars include the: Lightweight Coach, 8-4-4 Duplex Sleeper (4-8-4 for the Canadians) and the 10-5 Sleeper. Before we send them off to the factory we have a new video we just filmed... while on board a VIA train! You can watch that by clicking here or the photo above.

Jordan set up some of his own cars on the display track at Rapido HQ:

The last run of HO Scale Super Continental Passenger Cars was certainly a while ago. This run should satisfy everyone's needs for an updated version. In fact, we're making some adjustments!

• Track-powered interior lighting with capacitor controlled by our (often imitated, never duplicated) Rapido Lighter
• Improved design and assembly to prevent warping
• Tighter connections between the body and the roof
• New couplers designed for more reliable operation when pulled or pushed
• Redesigned, free-rolling trucks

Plus no more styrofoam packaging! This time we'll be using the traditional clamshell packing. Here are some more model photos. Check out the open roomette curtains! Brilliant!

How about the HO Scale Super Continental Car schemes? We'll list each version below. Remember, there's the Lightweight Coach, Duplex Sleeper and the 10-5 Sleeper, which includes a few business car schemes!

These cars are already very popular, so don't risk waiting until they're in stores, as they are likely to be sold out! Orders yours today.

Rapido’s 20th Anniversary Cars

If I told you we were producing a passenger car model at $49.95 (US) and $59.95 (Canadian), I'll bet you would say: " impossible!" To celebrate Rapido’s 20^th Anniversary, we are producing a special run of HO scale anniversary passenger cars at the original prices. We have two anniversary sleeping cars to choose from! And now we have an order deadline set for them: March 17th.

Edmundston Duplex Sleeper

We purchased this ex-VIA Rail Canada sleeping car in 2015 and have since donated it to the VIA Historical Association. It is currently being restored to be a part of the VIA Rail Canada 50th Anniversary heritage train in 2028.

Rapido Trains “Lark” 10-5 Sleeper

We are offering our anniversary 10-5 Sleeper decorated in a paint scheme inspired by Southern Pacific’s famous passenger train, The Lark.

Operate them as cars in your consist, private varnish cars at the end of your long distance train or just for display — they'll surly be worth it! And for the unbelievable prices of $49.95 (US) or $59.95 (Canadian), how can you pass this opportunity up?

These are only available direct from Rapido because, let's face it, we're losing money on every sale. But we want to see them on your layouts! You'll want to get those orders in asap! You can do so by clicking below.

HO Scale 1937 AAR Boxcar

The HO Scale 1937 AAR Boxcar order deadline is also March 17th. If you need more reasons to order this car, here's our brand new video about them! Click here or the photo above to watch. We're really happy with how these are turning out. We think they are the definitive 1937 AAR boxcar.

These cars feature oversized sliding doors and huge molded plastic stirrups.

Heck no! These cars feature state-of-the art detail and prototypical accuracy. It's time to retire your generic old models that don't live up to 2025 standards.

Here is a close-up photo four of the six different brake wheels included in this production run, roadname appropriately of course.

Incredible underbody detail, as is usual for Rapido!

How about the 1937 AAR Boxcar schemes? You can see all 19 versions below.

These boxcars have proven enormously popular, especially as the project manager is Ted Culotta. Ted is regarded by many as the leading expert on transition-era freight cars in all of North America. If he's happy with these cars, we guarantee that you will be happy with these cars. 

Please order your boxcar fleet from your favorite/favourite dealer or direct from us today!

• HO Scale FT Locomotive
• HO Scale Trenton Works 6348 cu.ft Boxcar
• HO Scale Balloon Top Coaches
• HO Scale Autoflood III Rapid Discharge Hopper

HO Scale EMD FT Locomotive

The Rapido FT Locomotives finally have an order deadline set for April 15th! Competing models of the FT are either really old (almost 30 years!) or more entry-level with minimal detailing. Now this classic early diesel gets the full treatment of accurate nose and roof profile, prototype-specific details, sound and a whole lot of style. Here are shots of the newest samples. We still have some last-minute tweaks.

We'll have the full specs of this model in the next newsletter, but for now here are those photos and a list of paint schemes.

Notice the front and rear couplers on the Santa Fe units, a first in HO scale!

The FT is proving to be our most popular transition-era locomotive in years. Please put your order in. Delivery is expected at the end of 2025.

HO Scale Trenton Works 6348 cu.ft. Boxcar

The HO Scale Trenton Works 6348 cu.ft. Boxcar closes out on April 15th. Since we just relaunched this last newsletter, we'll quickly skim through this neat car's info. Next newsletter we'll have a full video highlighting EVERYTHING you wanted to know about this car and then some. Until then, you can watch the relaunch video by clicking here.

On the team's trip aboard The Ocean earlier in the week, Jordan captured one of these boxcars in Pickering, Ontario.

Below you'll find the different schemes of this popular combo-door box car. They are still running today all over North America. It's a great model of a modern boxcar.

We're sure these cars won't last on shelves long, so make sure to get your orders in on time! You can roll in those orders by clicking the button below.

HO Scale Balloon Top Coaches

The Balloon Top Coaches – or “Canadian Flyers” as they often called by railfans – have an order deadline set for April 15th.

Long-Lived Prototypes

Delivered in 1937, the Balloon Tops remained in daily service for CN and VIA in Canada until 1996. They were used on trains across the country and into the US. They've had a popular second life on short lines and tourist railroads, including Cape Cod Central which is - so far - our biggest-selling paint scheme. Whodathunk?

Here's a VIA Balloon Top passing through Aurora, Ontario, in 1979.

Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.

Just look at those Heywood-Wakefield seats! GORGEOUS!!!

These cars are an absolute work of art. Highly detailed interiors, underframes and those massive women's bathrooms. You can see it in the photo above - the huge bulkhead is the women's bathroom. What did women do in these bathrooms?

Below are the schemes for the "tops". Note: we even included a few unlettered versions for you to imitate you favorite excursion or business train service.

For the Balloon Tops, we will ensure these are not delivered at the same time as our new run of Super Continental passenger cars, above. This way you can budget for both of these awesome new passenger cars. Be sure to order your fleet of Balloon Tops before they fly away without you! Order from your favourite hobby shop or click on the Order button below.

HO Scale AutoFlood III Rapid Discharge Hopper

The HO Scale AutoFlood III Rapid Discharge Hopper Car was just relaunched last month, with the addition of Railroad of Lies. April 15th is the order deadline and we're excited to get this project going and eventually into production. Next newsletter we'll highlight some of the finer details on these cars in a new video. Until then, check out the recent relaunch video by clicking here.

Below are the schemes for this run.

Reserve these while you can, as some schemes are likely to sell out (such as Railroad of Lies — it always does)! Please call your dealer or click the button below.

Tooling, Shipping and Arrival Updates

LOTS of new items will be arriving soon!

• HO Scale Metra F40PHM-2 Locomotives - In Buffalo, on hold until April
• HO Scale F30 Flatcars and MOW variations - In Buffalo, on hold until April
• HO Scale PFE R-40 Reefer - In Buffalo, on hold until April
• HO Scale Comet Cars - En Route
• HO Scale Amtrak NPCU - En Route
• HO Scale PRR H21 Hopper - En Route
• HO Scale PRR G22 Gondola - En Route
• The Cars of Via: Heritage Fleet, Volume 1 Cars 100 To 517 Book - Just arrived! Shipping next week!

New Photos

The entire Rapido Turbo 2.0 collection.

This is the Otter Valley Railroad's exclusive Turbo 2.0 in the VIA-CN scheme.

Click here to order one today!

They're just about ready to ship! The F40PHM-2 and -3s are ready to thunder on your layouts.

The unmistakable front of Chicago commuter locomotives!

CB&Q F40PHM-3, number 211, is our very first heritage locomotive we've produced!

The H16-44 locomotives are almost here... really!

The Virginian H16-44 production sample looks great! The sharp lines of the scheme fit these locomotives very well.

Factory Photos

These are N scale Dash 8 shells, waiting to be rejoined with their improved chassis. These have now left the factory and will be back at Rapido HQ in the next two weeks.

Here's the Santa Fe rebuilt PAs. Those EMD 567C prime mover "humps" look great

Virginian H16-44 noses! These are currently in production.

The factory actually had to remake the CP Action Red shells as they sent the samples to us and we were not happy with the colour. Here is a batch of B units in the paint shop.

New Employee Profile: James Taylor

Everyone please give a warm welcome to our (newish) employee, James Taylor. Yes you heard that right! James is one of talented artists working to ensure our models look snazzy. But just in case you needed a bit more on him, here's what Jason had to say about him!

James Taylor's first hit album was released by the Beatles' own Apple Records in December 1968 and featured the song "Something in the Way She Moves." 

Somewhat unsurprisingly, that James Taylor does not work for Rapido. Instead we have this other guy. He's also called James Taylor. We think his parents got confused when he was born and he wasn't singing "Carolina in My Mind" or playing the guitar. But they kept the name anyway.

Hair Status: James has hair so long that he was used as a body double in the Disney film Tangled. He is proud of his goldilocks. They are just right.

Oh, and James does artwork for Rapido. And he releases the occasional hit album.

This past week a handful of employees took a ride on VIA's Ocean to the Maritimes. Once there, they visited David Gunn's exceptional Canadian National transitional layout. Here's a quick photo recap of the event, with many sights taken in along the way.

Taken from on board a corridor train, we see VIA Rail 6431, an F40PH-2D. It will be today's lead for The Ocean. In a few seconds, the corridor train will run under Place Boneventure and enter Gare centrale de Montréal.

The group's ride for the trip: Chateaus Argenson and Radisson, real Budd Chateau sleepers from the 1950s! Inside each car there's even a neat plaque describing the history of the name.

Inside Chateau Argenson, the bedroom has tons of space and two comfy chairs. Talk about luxury! Jason's room in Chateau Radisson had the original 1992 upholstery. Vintage!

On the second day, the Drawing Room in Radisson was available, so the attendant gave the guys access to just hang out there. They tell me it was wonderful, but they didn't invite me so I'm not sure...

Jason appears to have found a new "home office."

In this photo, Jordan is patiently waiting for a cell signal so he can upload our latest short video. James wears his sunglasses at night, and in Budd sleepers apparently.

In Nova Scotia, the group visited Master Model Railroader, David Gunn. Dave has a beautiful Canadian National transition era layout. In the photos below, an FPA-4 leads a short passenger train past some gorgeous industrial scenes.

That's a nice bus!

Looking the other direction, we see an outdoor friend also wants to take in the CN action! Tatamagouche is where it's at.

And just like that newsletter 201 is in the books! Did you notice that there weren't any new launches in this version? Looks like we'll be launching something later this month. What it may be, you'll just have to wait and see.

Bobby Allard

Newsletter Reporter

Spring is almost here!

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Canada: 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, ON L3R 5H5

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