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Rapido Newsletter Vol. 208
©2025 Rapido Trains Inc.
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Dear Rapido Customer,
Happy 4th of July! And for you Canucks, a belated Happy Dominion Day!
It's hot outside, but we've got four even hotter announcements! Grab an iced drink, a pool floatie and get ready to be blown away!
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In this 208th issue...
- Rapido and Me!
- New Videos
- July Order Deadlines, er, deadline — July 15th, 2025
- Surprise Announcement! Railroad of Lies GP20 Tank Car
- Exclusive Model! HO Scale FA-1 Spokane, Portland and Seattle 857
- Totally New Product Announcements
- Events and Shows
- Shipping Updates
- New Sample Photos
- New Factory Photos
- Jordan's Adventures in the Bay Area!
- In Search of Jason's Stolen Marx Trains...
This newsletter is HUGE. Please take your time and soak it all up. Maybe view it on your phone will sitting on the throne. Really, we want you to read and enjoy the whole thing!
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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Rapido and Me
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!).
| | An amazing photo of an EP-5 on the Northeast Corridor Historical Society's modular layout. Courtesy of Nick Gotwalt. | Here's an F40PHM-2 in the fade scheme rolling through the country on Steven Hamilton's layout. | Our own Jordan was able to capture an SP Dome Lounge in the very shops and spot where they were built! SP's Sacramento General Shops was the location of this endeavor and now serves as part of the California State Railroad Museum and also Sacramento's Railyards redevelopment project. Neat! | | |
Jason Introduces Rapido's New (UK) Office Layout
In this video we take a visit across the pond to our UK operations where they are building a brand new office layout! Click here or the photo above to watch. It's pretty funny. There is a constant stream of subtitles as Jason uses his North American model railroading terms that the average British modeller will find quite strange. If you haven't already, subscribe to their YouTube channel. They're producing lots of neat UK models in ultra high detail. Go checkout their website!
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Order Deadline: July 15th, 2025
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N Scale Greenbrier 72' IL 7780 Reefer
The amazing N Scale Greenbrier 72' IL 7780 Reefer is just a few days away from the order deadline on July 15th. We have decorated renders and sample photos. Stay tuned for a video coming soon to our YouTube channel!
N scalers! You do not already have this car on your layout. A few people have asked us why we are making a car they already own. ScaleTrains made a car of a similar length, but a completely different design by a different builder, with different owners. The Atlas reefer is not nearly as long and is again a totally different car by a different builder in different paint schemes.
So please rest assured, nobody has made this in N scale. If you model modern-era mainline freight railroading in North America, you need this car.
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These cars certainly will brighten up your consists!
And they are not ScaleTrains cars!
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The UP cars have a different body pattern than the Cryo-Trans versions.
Another neat variation for N scale!
And it's not the Atlas car!
| The Greenbrier 72' IL 7780 Reefer was built for the frozen perishable business, carrying anything from frozen foods to anything bulky that needs to stay fresh. These cars travel widely and can be seen on general freights all across North America. OK, enough chitter chatter, let's check out the early pre-production samples of these cars. | |
These reefers really fill a void for N scale railroading.
They are not Micro-Trains PFE reefers.
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It's worth seeing the undeframe again! And we can't overlook the end cages.
Your ancient Walthers Cryo-Trans model is a different, shorter, older car that is not even a reefer.
| Please note that these early samples have some flash from the injection process. That will be completely removed for production. | |
We mentioned this earlier but it's worth saying again: this is the FIRST and ONLY model of this style of Greenbrier reefer in N scale! Different roof, builder, sides, etc. This is the real deal, 72' of pure frozen perishable goodness! And the car itself is a massive 82' long! This is like a passenger car!
Another neat defining mark of our Greenbrier 72' IL 7780 Reefer are the multiple body styles! UP has its own body style, as does Cryo-Trans.
| A UP car in downtown Chicago. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lassahn. | A neat feature of the Lineage and Cryo-Trans cars is the unique names they carry on their doors. Our cars will also feature this neat addition! Because of the names on the doors, each roadnumber and name of Lineage or Cryo-Trans will be available as an individual item. You can still buy these roads as six-packs and create the ultimate consist! | Here's a closer look at that name on the door. These names range from normal rivers or places to wackier ones such as: "Why" and "Why Not". | |
Here are the N Scale Greenbrier 72' IL 7780 Reefer features:
- Cryo-Trans body style
- Union Pacific-specific body style
- Two UP paint and lettering styles
- Two Cryo-Trans paint and lettering styles
- Separately applied cut levers and end platform
- Etched metal grate on end platforms
- Underbody brake rigging
- Separately applied door latch mechanism
- Accurate paint and lettering
- Available in single car name selections for Cryo-Trans and Lineage
- Available in singles or multi-packs
- Suggested minimum radius: 13.75" out of the box (You can get tighter if you add Micro-Trains 1016 couplers, not included.)
Here are the colorful the schemes.
| N scalers, you know you want this car! Make sure to get your orders in through your favorite dealer or directly through us. | | |
IN-STOCK NOW! HO Scale Procor GP20 Tank Car — Railroad of Lies!
Surprise! With the HO Scale Procor GP20 Tank Cars almost here we thought it would be a great time to launch the Railroad of Lies variation as well! Whether your factory needs oil, some liquid that's incredibly dangerous or bulk mayonnaise, the ROLX tank car is for you! We'll have an unboxing video for these neat tanks in the near future.
Check out the models we just received.
| A neat modern looking scheme with the added bonus of the white ROLX patchout! | |
The Rapido Procor GP20 Tank Car features:
- Drawn from original blueprints and drawings
- Artworks sourced from original design drawings and photos
- Photo-etched metal walkways
- Detailed vent stacks, loading hatches, air tanks and braking equipment.
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- Late style features 100-ton trucks with 36” wheels and a reinforced drain valve housing.
- We only made, like, 100 of these.
Check out the side view of the ROLX car, below.
| Now, if you want to wait till these it the shelves it might be too late as we don't anticipate these cars to last long! Only 100 made of each of the two numbers. First come, first served! Order yours ASAP! | | |
Exclusive Model! HO Scale FA-1 Spokane, Portland and Seattle 857
We have collaborated with the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Historical Society to announce a very LIMITED custom run of Alco FA-1, number 857! This unique model will be produced in the one of a kind paint scheme it wore from 1964 until it was retired by Burlington Northern in 1972.
All current SP&SRHS members will receive a 10% discount off their purchase. Any non-member that purchases 857 will receive a one year membership as part of the retail price. What a great deal!
Click here to order one of these neat FA-1s now!
We will be doing a bigger push for our FAs in general over the summer. SP&S and NYC are our biggest sellers, but some of the paint schemes need your love if we want to bring out this model any time soon. So please order your SP&SRHS models as well as all the other FA-1s and FB-1s. Click here for the FA-1/FB-1 page.
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July Announcement Video
We've got four sizzlin' summer launches! Click here or the photo above to watch the new video about these great new models.
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NEW! HO Scale MLW S-13 and RS-23 Locomotives
Please welcome the HO Scale Montreal Locomotive Works S-13 and RS-23! These much asked for (especially by Jason) locomotives have been been in the works for quite a while now and we're excited to show them to the world.
| The entire gang! The BC S-13s, CP RS-23 and the CN S-13. | |
CN 8512 hauls some Balloon Tops (hey, we also make those!) to the yard.
We are doing 8512 in that paint scheme, so you can recreate this photo exactly!
Photo by John Sjolander, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
| The MLW S-13 and RS-23 locomotives are virtually identical from the frame up. In fact, they both used the same MLW-style switcher body and underframe of the previous S-11 and S-12 designs. Under the hood both used an ALCO 251c prime mover which generated 1,000hp. The major difference between the two versions was that the S-13 rode on “switching style” type A trucks, while the RS-23 utilized road trucks (type B or lightweight truck). | Another angle of the S-13 and RS-23s. They might be 3D renders, but they sure look good! | Two CP RS-23s sit idle showing off the paint scheme differences. 8037 wears the A5M scheme while 8046 wears the A8M variation. Photo courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection. | Next up we have some prototype photos showing the CP RS-23s in action. From their awesome three to five unit consists in western Canada to being pressed into mainline service during the power crisis of the 1990s, these RS-23s really earned their keep! Check out the 5-unit lashup of Rapido engines in the mainline intermodel train below! | To RS18us bracket two RS-23s on an intermodal train in 1994. Wild! Every loco in this photo you can model from us! Photo courtesy of John Sutherland. | In the 1990s CP was power short and turned to their RS-23 fleet to help the crunch. Here an M636 leads FOUR RS-23s on a road freight in Hempstead. Photo courtesy of John Sutherland. | Out in Humboldt, SK, four RS-23s ply away on a branchline switch job. Scenes like this were commonplace in the mid-1980s. Photo courtesy of John Sutherland. | Four RS-23s, all elephant style, lead a freight over the South Saskatchewan River on the newly rebuilt Fenton Bridge. Looks like they're digging in by the smoke starting to fire up. Photo courtesy of John Sutherland. | |
British Columbia Railway (formerly PGE) received the first MLW S-13s with an order of three, delivered in January 1959. These would serve well into the 1980s, wearing a variety of schemes which included both variations of the two-tone green and eventually the government red, white and blue. All three survive today on either the Waterloo Central or GWWD!
Canadian National was the largest owner of S-13, rostering 49 units with the first also arriving in 1959. Some of their duties found them working in Spadina, switching out passenger consists, local freight service and general yard operations. A number of S-13s would continue earning their keep well in the 1990s! Some would later be sold off to Canadian and American shortlines.
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The iconic cab end of the MLW S-13 and RS-23.
The double glass always made these locomotives stand out.
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Canadian Pacific was the largest owner of the RS-23 locomotives with a total of 34 built between August and September of 1959. The RS-23s were generally seen in the Atlantic Region and Saskatchewan on local and road switching assignments. It was not uncommon to see them working in sets of four or five units on "lightweight" branchline freights in Northern Saskatchewan.
The RS-23 was also a staple to the Maritimes and just about everywhere else between Alberta and Nova Scotia and were often seen in sets of two to three units. By the late-1990s, CP retired their fleet but many continued to survive on shortlines throughout North America, including Ontario Southland and Minnesota Commercial. The options for your own "freelance" operations are endless!
| One that escaped! Minnesota Commercial 85 was part of the road's backbone of misfit locomotives and worked Midway for years. Photo by James C. Herold, courtesy of the Rapido Trains collection. | |
A few weeks ago, we took a visit to the Waterloo Central Railway to ride a train pulled by a real S-13! In fact, this is where most of the footage from our launch video came from. Here's a shot of that awesome Waterloo Central paint scheme.
Thanks to Bob Fallowfield and the team at the WCR for making the day fun and enjoyable!
| The Rapido gang invades the Waterloo Central! Below, a neat drone angle by our very own Jeremy as 1001 crosses over the Conestoga River bridge. | |
MLW S-13 and RS-23 Masterclass
Want to learn even more about the MLW S-13 and RS-23 Locomotives? Click here or the photo below to see their masterclass generously put together by Glenn Courtney. It covers everything you ever wanted to know about these mighty Canadian switchers.
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Here are the HO Scale S-13 and RS-23 Locomotive features:
- Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
- Correct Canadian-style AAR (Type A or B) or MLW lightweight trucks
- Photo-etched radiator grilles
- Road-specific fuel tanks
- Traction motor details on trucks
- New thinwall cab design with complete interior lighting
- Prototypically correct tread patterns on walkways
- CN S-13s feature strobe "fink light" where appropriate
- Metal grab irons
- Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
- Rubber air and sanding lines
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DCC/Sound (Recorded from a real S-13!)
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
Now check out the schemes for these locomotives!
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S-13 and RS-23 Exclusives!
Otter Valley Railroad will be offering an exclusive run of S-13s, decorated for the Ontario Southland and Waterloo Central. The Ontario Southland versions wear that awesome maroon and cream with silver striping. The Waterloo Central 1001 wears a CP-esque maroon and grey throwback scheme, but lettered for their road.
These are two roads you won't want to miss out on! Click here or the photos below to order them.
| Ready to show the S-13 and RS-23 some love? Order them now through your favourite hobby shop or directly from us. | | Two S-13s and two RS-18s haul a Temp set out of the sheds and into Spadina. You can model EVERYTHING in this photo! Photo courtesy of John Sutherland. | | |
A Personal Note from Jason:
Hi guys. A lot of people have joked that Rapido makes stuff that I need for my layout. I admit, that was certainly true in the early days but now we have expanded to be a much deeper company.
The S-13 was the #1 diesel locomotive on the list of what I needed for my layout, as they were all over Spadina Yard during my modelling era and were virtually impossible to kitbash. I kept putting it off as I was concerned it would not be a big seller. Dan Darnell finally convinced me to bring it out now. It is in the tooling shop already and we expect samples by the end of the summer.
You'll notice it's not a conditional release. We will make this model even if we lose money, because I didn't start a model train company just to make engines that other people want. I really, really want my fleet of S-13s, and we've packed it with weight so it will hopefully haul a 15-car Rapido from Union to Spadina, albeit not that quickly!
Also if you've watched our Hosehead video about our Canadian models (here), you'll see that our Canadian sales have been really suffering lately. I hope you will put your faith in this locomotive project and support our efforts to produce this long-awaited, iconic Canadian switcher and its roadswitcher cousin, the RS-23.
Thanks a lot and back to Bobby. I'll be back at the end of the newsletter.
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NEW! HO Scale Canadian Light Rail Vehicle
You may remember last year at our 20th anniversary event we teased these at the Halton County Radial Railway. We are pleased to officially announce the latest in our growing catalogue of transit models!
Streetcar fans, rapid transit modelers and residents of the 6ix alike, please welcome the HO Scale Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV)! This brand new model is packed with tons of features and sounds, just like the real version which was a Toronto Transit Commission icon for over four decades.
MIND THE DOORS! This is a conditional announcement with a 5% early bird discount if you order by SEPTEMBER 15, 2025! That's a good deal and with plenty of orders, we can get this into the next phase.
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All of the TTC CLRV versions! Those trolley poles will also collect power, too.
Below, a closeup of the operator's side.
| In the 1970s, most North American cities were discontinuing their streetcar operations in favour of increased road capacity or light/heavy rail systems. Most cities except Tdot! The citizens of the greater Toronto area, spurred by the recent successes against the Spadina Expressway and concerned about the TTC’s desire to eliminate all streetcars by 1980, successfully lobbied for the continuation of streetcar operations. Enter The CLRV! | |
The rear end. Those rear marker lights as well as turn signals will work (in DCC mode ONLY).
The trolley pole is sprung. That's why it looks so tall in the renders.
| A view of the final CLRV scheme. A sad day for Toronto, indeed. | First delivered in 1978 and entering service a year later, the CLRV became the face of TTC's vital network. These streetcars would operate well into the 2000s as the backbone of their fleet. The final CLRVs were retired in 2019 as they were replaced by new cars. Many still survive today in museum collections. The TTC itself even has a CLRV preserved in their possession! | Want to see a neat feature of the HO Scale CLRV? We've designed the "short turn" flags to be fully functional! Check out the image below to see the flag in the raised or lowered position. These flags will be on the appropriate scheme. | Neat-o! The fully functional "short turn" flag which flips up or down. | |
The HO Scale CLRV features:
- Accurately scaled from the 3D scan and prototype drawings
- Power collection via track power or combined trolley pole and track power
- Road number-specific details including original couplers or front skirts
- All-wheel pickup and truck-mounted motors
- Highly detailed interior including seats and operator controls
- Fully functioning “Short Turn” flag sign on the front (where appropriate)
- Fully functioning lighting including brake lights and turn signals (DCC Only)
- Factory-applied destination signs (additional decals and extra clear plastic to change the destination sign display, where appropriate)
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
- Suggested minimum radius: 7.5 inches or maybe even tighter! We haven't tested below 7.5...
Here are those beauty schemes for the CLRV, including quite a few fictional but eye-pleasing liveries. Based on recent orders, we are a bit worried that San Francisco may be our biggest seller...
In all seriousness, we are expecting the UTDC Boston scheme to do very well as they were very popular when running in demonstration service in Beantown.
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Ready to order every CLRV? There's no stopping you from that! In fact that would certainly help make these reach their goal by the September 15, 2025 conditional order deadline. If we get a flood of orders in the first few weeks, we won't wait. We will start the tooling. The designs are ready to roll.
Order them now through your favourite hobby shop or directly from us.... You'll be cheesed if you miss it.
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NEW! HO Scale Halliburton Pneumatic Rail Car
Are you ready for a different type of freight car? Please welcome the unique HO Scale Halliburton Pneumatic Rail Car to the ever-growing assortment of cars Rapido has to offer. You probably know this as the "Halliburton Cement Car," however its true name was "pneumatic rail car."
First up, we have the decorated renders. Check them out below!
ATTENTION! Because this is such a weird car, we have no idea if it will sell. Therefore it is a conditional announcement with a 5% early bird discount if you order by OCTOBER 15, 2025! That's a good deal and with plenty of orders, we can get this into the next phase. If we get a ton of orders right off the bat we will start the tooling early. Like the CLRV, these designs are done.
| In 1961, the Halliburton Company teamed up with Pullman-Standard to create a pneumatic covered hopper car. This car was specifically designed to haul dry bulk materials such as cement, pozzolan and fly ash — all critical to oilfield operations for the drilling of mud. | |
Externally, this car had a shape never seen before in railcar history. Instead of the common, angled hopper bays, these cars featured three vertically mounted cylindrical tanks. These tanks were placed on a flatcar-like platform with a brakewheel at one end and vertical handrail supports on both ends. They measured 43’7” in length with a 70-ton capacity and 2,400 cubic feet of volume.
Despite being built for such a specialized service, the Pneumatic Rail Cars lasted well over 40 years. They could be seen across North America, with a heavy focus on the oil-rich states.
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Ready to read about the HO Scale Halliburton Pneumatic Rail Car features? Here they are:
- Newly tooled from original blueprints and measurements
- Full underbody details and piping
- Separate metal grab irons
- Stainless steel metal roofwalk
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- Free-rolling trucks with profiled metal wheelsets
- Available as single car or six-packs
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
Check out the scheme variations for this unique car.
| Want to ensure these cars are a reality? Order them before October 15th, which is the conditional order deadline. The more orders, the better chance this car has to make it into tooling! | | |
NEW! N Scale CTA 2600 Budd Series 'L' Cars
Last month we teased our N CTA 2600 Budd Series 'L' Cars. Now we're ready to launch them to the land of 1:160! In case you haven't seen the launch video, click here to watch it!
HOLD ON! Before we go any further we want to let you know that this project is fully conditional. This means if you order these cars before September 15, 2025 you will get the neat 5% early bird discount. That's a good deal and with plenty of orders, we can get this into the next phase.
| The 2600-2600-series Cars Cars are perhaps some of the most recognizable forms of transport in North America, and many still operate for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) today. Between 1981 and 1987, the Budd Company built 600 of these 'L' Cars for Chicago's CTA. Upon delivery, these cars operated almost everywhere as well as on the then new O'Hare Airport extension, now known as the Blue Line. | Just in case you missed it... check out our Masterclass covering the CTA 2600 Budd Series 'L' Cars. This is a great source for the history of these neat 'L' cars that continue to work hard for the city of Chicago everyday. Click here or the photo below to see their Masterclass. | |
Here are the N Scale CTA 2600 Budd Series "L" Car features:
- Designed from original factory drawings and field measurements
- Two-car sets feature one powered and one unpowered 2600-series car
- Operating headlights, marker lights and interior lighting on both ends
- Detailed underbodies
- DC Silent (DCC ready) or Dual-Mode DCC/Sound with ESU LokSound and MoPower capacitor system
- Suggested minimum radius: 9 3/4”
- Also available in a bookcase collector's set!*
*The 4-car collector’s set features a four CTA 2600 Budd Series ‘L’ Cars nicely fit into a bookend case. Perfect for those subway fans to safely display their cars! 4-car collector's set available in select schemes.
Check out the scheme variations for the normal 2-car CTA sets!
| Below are the two schemes we will offer in the "4-car collector's set" with the bookend case. | The CTA 2600 Budd Series 'L' Cars are counting on your orders! Get your orders in before September 15, 2025, to grab your 5% discount and ensure this project beats the conditional order deadline. Order them now through your favorite hobby shop or directly from us. | | Events and Shows One Thing
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St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet
Stop by Collinsville, Illinois to see us at the St. Louis RPM on July 24th-26th. We'll have many of our new samples on display. You can ask Dan and James (and maybe even that Craig guy who used to work here) any question you want! Especially about our models. We're looking 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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New Sample Photos - Holy CF7, Batman! (and other stuff too!)
To read more about our CF7, click here! This project is smokin' hot! We'll be announcing an order deadline soon!
| | The CF7 features some of the nicest etched metal grilles we've ever seen. Check out the model above. Below, three different versions show off the unique variations. Two square cabs and a round cab. Note the Stratolite on the far CF7 and the A/C. | | The early rounded cabs just have an amazing look. It's too bad this cab didn't last through the entire rebuild project. The square cab below shows off the rest of the etched metal parts. This also includes the fan grilles, steps and other assorted parts! | | |
And More Stuff!
(Click on the photos to go to their respective webpage.)
| | Surprise! Here's an early GP9u sample, painted into CP's A8M scheme. This is a later variation as it features strobes on the rear and an E-bell. Look for a video featuring these in the future! | And here it is at the office! The GP9u just arrived in time for more photos. | |
The GP9u looks fantastic in the setting Sun.
Remember, this is an early sample subject to revisions before production.
| Are you ready for the H16-44s? They're here! Here's a CN version, basking in the summer Sun. | The Cotton Belt GP40 looks amazing! Decked out with the SP light package, L-window, cab roof bell and more. Plus those yellow handrails really make them stand out. | Below, the Wisconsin Central looks superb in the eye-pleasing maroon and yellow. | | |
SD7, 9 and 10 finished chassis waiting for bodies! They're well into production at this point.
They will leave the factory later this month.
| | The SP Dome Lounges are on their way over from the factory! | | The UP C36-7s looking fine. Check out the battery boxes below! | | |
Jordan's Adventures in the Bay Area
Late in June we were excited to attend the famous Bay Area Prototype Modelers Meet in Richmond, California and go on a mini tour of events during our visit!
Kicking things off on Thursday June 19, Jordan and Michael held a meet-and-greet at The Train Shop in Santa Clara.
| A neat 3D print we had on display was our SP C-40-3 caboose. | | Jordan, Craig and Michael set up shop at BAPM. | | On Friday, June 20 was a visit to the Carquinez Model Railroad Society in Crockett to meet the members of the club and show off our latest samples. In addition, we were able to drag Craig Walker out of retirement to join the tour. The SP Dome Lounge Cars also hit the club rails for the first time this evening! | | |
Check out the SP Dome Lounge car with those Waukesha propane bottle carriers.
We can't help but love all of that detail in the dome section.
| | Saturday, June 21 was the BAPM meet, where we had our table set up with our latest samples. On display were the Dome Lounges, the latest 3D prints of our upcoming SP C-40-3 Caboose and another all-new model which will be formally announced later this year — the Southern Pacific PC&F Class 66–B-2 Economy Baggage and Mail/Express cars in HO scale! (Ed.: Can the name get any longer? Say that ten times fast.) Stay tuned for more on these all-new models coming soon. | Jay Sathe with the sold out BART cars on the GSMRM layout. | Sunday, June 22 we paid a visit to the Golden State Model Railroad Museum for another public meet-and-greet. Our friend Jay Sathe from BART (also a member of the museum) was there and we had a great time meeting everyone. We had the chance to run some of our models on their layout. The Dome Lounges looked incredible crossing Donner Pass! | Here's a photo of Jordan taking the photo of the Dome Lounge in the original car shop where the real cars got their final finishing touches applied in 1955. | |
Our final day of the trip was a special tour of the California State Railroad Museum. Organized by Carquinez Model Railroad Society member Greg Taylor and his son Jason, we were given a full tour of the entire facility including the old shops and erecting building. We were in awe of the size of the collection and can’t wait to return! Thank you again to Greg and the team at the CSRM for making this all happen.
We had so much fun at our Bay Area tour and we can’t wait to see everyone again next year! We may even call Craig out of retirement... again!
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Jordan and Michael standing on SP 6819 at the CSRM. Photo by Craig Walker.
No, we're not making a model of it.
| | Running our Marx trains in summer 2024 | | |
In Search of Jason's Stolen Marx Trains...
I am writing this from my cottage in Gimli, Manitoba. It has been in my wife's family since 1954. Unfortunately, in May some low-lifes broke into our shed (and several others in the area) and stole things. I don't care about the tools - I can buy more tools, and I have already done so.
But they also stole our toys, including our Marx tinplate train set. That tinplate set came from my parents' old cottage in Ontario that they had to sell in 2022 due to health reasons. When my youngest son, Isaac, learned that the Marx set was stolen, he was absolutely broken-hearted. We're talking crying for two hours.
The train set was his last tangible connection to my parents' old cottage and "how things used to be." I posted about it on my Kingston Sub Facebook page and two people have reached out to offer a replacement set. I am hopeful that we will get the train and tracks replaced eventually. Thank you so much to those of you who have offered to help.
When Isaac found out about how generous and supportive the model railroad community is, it made him feel a lot better. We are still sad that the original set is gone, but we are so grateful to our wonderful model railroad community for their kindness and generosity.
You have restored my faith in humanity.
Jason
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That ends Newsletter 208. Tons of new launches which should have had something for everyone! We'll be back soon with more news and launches.
Until then, happy modeling!
Bobby Allard
Newsletter Reporter
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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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