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Rapido Newsletter Vol. 217
©2025 Rapido Trains Inc.
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Dear Rapido Customer,
Hello folks, we're back with some exciting new models! Buckle up, this newsletter includes a several anticipated locomotive announcements, a brand new passenger car and even an N scale project!
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In the 217th issue...
- New Announcements
- Rapido and Me
- Events and Shows
- Tooling, Factory and Shipping Updates
- VIA "HEP" 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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November Announcement Video
Come on over and check out our November announcement video by clicking here or the photo above. Please note, we'll have a more detailed video highlighting some of the launches in the near future. Keep tabs by subscribing to our YouTube channel.
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NEW! HO Scale "Century" Series: ALCO/MLW 424 and ALCO 425 Locomotive
Behold the latest from Rapido innovations: the HO Scale "Century" Series: ALCO/MLW 424 and ALCO 425 Locomotive! These models will feature state-of-the-art tooling and design techniques that no other C-424 and C-425 have ever featured.
Please click here or on the image above to watch our launch video. Jason and Dan had a lot of fun filming it while visiting our UK office.
Talk about an obscure contest...
Jason is a huge Doctor Who nerd, so he and Dan filmed the video in many different Doctor Who filming locations in England and Wales. If you are the first person to email us with the names of all of the locations (either real name or Doctor Who name) and at least one story that was filmed in each location, you'll get a free sound-equipped HO or N locomotive of your choice.
If you can also name the two extra locations in the post-credits sequence, you'll get a free freight car as well! It's time to contact all your British friends and family to get their input! Full contest rules are in the YouTube video notes.
Again, click here or the image above to watch.
| A very early render of the CP C-424s. Many things will change before production. | |
Has any locomotive from a defunct manufacturer stood the test of time better than these locomotives? Let's start with the C-424, introduced in 1963. This model was designed to replace ALCO's RS-27 series as well as compete with GE's Universal series. These locomotives clocked in with 2,400-horsepower, along with all of the amenities of a typical roadswitcher: long hood, low short nose, spacious cab and good traction for moving heavy cuts. ALCO built 98 units for nine American roads and one Mexican road (NdeM) while MLW built 92 for the Canadian market.
For just 98 American units, the C-424s sure had MANY differences. Some of these include: Sill or walkway mounted handrails, early or late filter packs, dynamic or non-dynamics, multiple fuel tank sizes, etched-metal step rungs and much more! These are featured on our HO Scale S-13 and RS-23s, to much fanfare. Check out the photo below, demonstrating these awesome steps.
| North of the border, the Montreal Locomotive Works was busy manufacturing their version of the C-424 Locomotives, under license from ALCO. MLW built 92 examples for Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. Both CN and CP eventually rebuilt their locomotives throughout their careers. CP modified their locomotives multiple times into the 1990s, with the final units withdrawn in 1998. | | CP 4205 hangs out with a GP30 and an F-Unit. 4205 is wearing the Action Red scheme with 5"stripes. Photo taken by Jim Boyd, courtesy of Kevin EuDaly collection. | | CP 4213 is still wearing the Multimark logo, but now features the later upgrades. Photo taken by Robert Popchock, courtesy of Kevin EuDaly collection. | | |
The biggest spotting feature between the two roads was CN's classic ALCO "notch" on the rear hood while CP's had the signature MLW-style flat end. CP's units travelled all across Canada and into the US to places like: Maine, New York state, Vermont and even south of Pennsylvania.
In addition to multiple CN and CP schemes and phases, we're also offering CP 4242 and 4239, the first two locomotives painted in action red and Multimark logos. These two pulled CP's Multimark publicity train across Canada in the fall of 1968! You might recognize our leading photo, taken at Yoho (Rapido?) at the Spiral Tunnels.
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D&H 452 and 451 are fresh out of the shops at Hornell, New York.
Photo courtesy of Kevin EuDaly collection.
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Wait, there's even more! In 1980, the Delaware & Hudson contracted General Electric to rebuild some of the ex-Erie Lackawanna and Reading C-424s. Numbers 451 to 456 were rebuilt and outshopped in a attractive blue and yellow chevron scheme with the D&H shield. These would join D&H's eclectic roster of ALCOs and quickly became fan favorites! Their new designation would be: C-424m.
The Rapido C-424m units will feature all of those signature rebuild modifications and our favorite detail: that loud K5LA above the headlight!
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SP&S 315 and 320 proudly wear their colors in-between assignments.
Photo taken by Jim Boyd, courtesy of Kevin EuDaly collection.
| The early BN era was wild. 4240 and four other locomotives pull a train through a cut. Photo taken by Peter Arnold, courtesy of Kevin EuDaly collection. | The C-425 was cataloged as an “upgraded” C-424, outputting 2,500-horsepower. The C-425 used the same 251C prime mover as their C-424 counterpart but used GE’s 598 main generator, which was also used on GE’s U25B series. | N&W's high hood C-425s had a rugged look. Photo courtesy of Ed Painter. | |
Many featured road-specific details that made these locomotives stand out more than other manufacturer's units. For example, N&W ordered 18 with their usual high-hood specifications. PRR and NH requested a unique horizontal headlight so the horn could be fitted just above it for catenary clearance purposes. Our models will include those options above as well as the normal vertical cab headlight variations.
Fun fact: the C-425 production ended a whole year earlier than the 424s!
| BCR 801 leads another C-425 and two M420Ws through the remote British Columbia wilderness. Photo courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection. | |
And finally...the BC units. No other road has an aura like the British Columbia Railway did in the late 1970s and 1980s. Their roster was nearly all ALCO and MLW, save for a handful of SD40-2s and GF6C electric motors. BCR bought all 12 of Erie Lackawanna's C-425 fleet. Once on property, some units received a quick patchout and horn relocation above the headlight. Eventually all locomotives received the standard nose mounted headlight, cab mounted bell, K5L horn on top of the bell bracket and BC's famous rock lights on the nose front. Some would get recessed rock lights and pilot mounted lights, too. Our models will feature all of these variations!
By the early 1990s, six units of the fleet had been sold off to Genesee Valley Transportation subsidiaries: Delaware-Lackawanna and Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern. Ironically, when operated on the D-L, they would once again run on Erie Lackawanna rails! All six continue to run off revenue miles for both operations — over 60 years since they were built.
| Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern 2454 sits in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The unit retains its two-tone green but now sports its original EL number. Photo courtesy of Otto Vondrak. | |
The Rapido ALCO/MLW C-424 and ALCO C-425 feature:
- Rotating bearing caps (where appropriate)
- Multiple nose, long hood and cab variations: nose light, high nose and sand fill caps
- Full lighting package including track lights, walkway lights and three-color class lights
- Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
- With or without dynamic brakes (where appropriate)
- Road-specific fuel tanks
- Full interior details
- Separate metal grab irons
- Prototypically correct tread patterns on walkways
- Correct details for different phase variations
(C-424 Ph. I, II and III / C-425 Ph. I and II)
- GE/Hornell rebuild features correct “bump-out” panel, cut down rear radiator wings and more!)
- Walkway or sill-mounted handrails, using Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
- Etched-metal steps with fold-over step edge designs
- Correct GSC or Dofasco trucks
- Traction motor details on trucks
- Rubber air and sanding lines
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound (recorded from a real Century locomotive!)
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
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A personal note from Jason:
Before Bobby moves on to the paint schemes, I wanted to give you all a heads up. Normally we have artwork mockups of all of our paint schemes. The truth is that we have had to launch this project several months before we were planning to.
We have been working on this project for almost a year. We decided a couple of months ago that our designs were not accurate enough and we did a 3D scan of a real C-424 to ensure that we got all of the curves and angles correct. We are aware that another manufacturer is planning to produce the C-424 and C-425, and we are also aware that they announced a very short pre-order window.
We want you to be able to make an informed decision about which manufacturer's ALCO/MLW Century locomotives you should order. To that end, we have been working around the clock to get this launch newsletter out to you in time for you to make that informed choice.
So we apologize for not having the artwork mockups in place. About 75% of the model design is complete and we anticipate having it all finished up by the end of the year so we can go into tooling in January. We assure you that we will show full artwork mockups, model designs and pre-production samples before the final order deadline. That way, you will be able to confirm that the detail level and accuracy meets your high standards before you finally commit to buy.
Thanks for your understanding, and now I'll hand this back to Bobby.
| | Order those popular ALCO Century Series locomotives now! You can do so through your favorite/favourite hobby shop or directly from us. You won't want to miss out on these. In fact, like some previous releases, if you wait to order you risk them being sold out before they hit the shops! | | |
NEW SCHEMES! HO Scale GP40 Locomotive
Our surprise new release of HO Scale GP40 Locomotives is in-production NOW! Quantities for this release are locked in. When they're gone, they're gone! Before we jump into the schemes, we have a new launch video to show you. Click here to watch.
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Western Pacific Bicentennial GP40s — 1776 and 1976
Let freedom ring! We're excited to announce the Western Pacific Bicentennial GP40 Duo set, packed full of extra features: WP 1776 and 1976, complete with DC/DCC/Sound and a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. All of this comes in a classic wooden display case, with a die-struck metal "WP Feather" on top. Yowzas!
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HOLD ON: the Western Pacific Bicentennials are a one-time production of 200 sets (for the Bicentennial, get it?) and will NOT be run again in their boxed set configuration. This will truly be a collectible item you won't want to miss out on.
Check out more renders of these special GP40s, below.
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In March of 1976, Western Pacific chose GP40 number 3540 to repaint into the special red, white and blue scheme. This would become the 1776, featuring the "Betsy Ross" flag in a slight wave pattern on the cab sides. The 1776 also featured roundels on the long hood walkways. Out of the paint shop, the both sides sported the Great Seal of the United States. Later, WP interchanged these with a Liberty Bell and U.S. Bonds design. You'll get ALL FOUR roundels with this unit!
June 1976 saw WP 3541 leave the paint booth as the 1976, in a similar scheme. The cab featured the standard 50-star U.S. flag and the Great Seal of the United States roundels, mounted on the walkway handrail stanchions.
| Below, we have the art for these classic GP40s. | | |
Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP40s — Red, White and Bicentennial!
Red GP40 Locomotives just look good. Upon delivery, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP40s were painted in an attractive red scheme with giant white M-K-T letters and pilot chevrons. These lacked dynamic brakes but came with footboards. Our render below does not show the footboards, but they will be there.
Now, we can't forget MKT's entry into the Bicentennial party! Unit 200 was chosen and repainted into a striking red, white and blue scheme similar to their current green and yellow scheme. The front had red and white stripes, the body featured a light blue and the hood had an American flag prominently painted onto the doors. We've captured those details the MKT had on these units, right down to the correct 2,600 gallon tanks!
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The features for the MKT Geeps are virtually identical to the WP's GP40. Minus the Bicentennial features, of course!
Here's the art for the MKT schemes. We've only made 75 per number of the delivery scheme and 150 of the Bicentennial scheme. Once they are gone, they are gone.
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Illinois Central GP40Rs — "The Final Four"
It's 2025 and a Class I railroad is still operating straight-GP40s? Wild info! Four Illinois Central GP40Rs remain on CN-IC's roster, operating out of the Chicago/Midwest area. What makes these GP40Rs even more iconic is they're still wearing the classic IC all-black scheme with the popular "Death Star" logo. Many have faded and have replacement parts, adding to their gritty looks.
| The IC final four still earn their keep in and around Chicago. Here 3108 and 3138 lug a local. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lassahn. | Our very own PM, Jeff, sees these GP40Rs on a regular basis. He captured A LOT of photos of them in-service on locals around Chicago on the ex-IC, EJ&E and other lines. | |
Let's break down each of our IC GP40R models by their details. There's LOTS of variation:
IC 3107
- Nathan P5R24 Air Horn on engine hood
- Gray front cab door and A/C Box
- No plow
- Sans-serif numberboard font
- IC-style ditch lights (Front and rear)
- Motorola Firecracker and Sinclair EOT antennas on cab roof
- “Autostart” warning stickers
- FRA yellow sill stripe and stepwells
IC 3108
- Nathan K3LAR2 Air Horn on engine hood
- Gray rear cab door and black A/C Box
- Front plow
- Sans-serif numberboard font
- IC-style ditch lights (Front and rear)
- Multiple Sinclair antennas on cab roof
- “Autostart” warning stickers
- FRA yellow sill stripe and stepwells
IC 3115
- Nathan P5R24 Air Horn on cab roof
- Gray A/C Box
- Large front plow
- IC-style numberboard font
- IC-style ditch lights (Front and rear)
- Multiple Sinclair antennas on cab roof
- “Autostart” warning stickers
- FRA yellow sill stripe and stepwells
- “No Excessive Horn Blowing” sticker
IC 3138
- Operation Lifesaver graphics on rear of hood
- Nathan K3LAR2 Air Horn on engine hood
- White A/C Box
- Large front plow
- New numberboard font
- IC-style ditch lights (Front and rear)
- Multiple Sinclair antennas on cab roof
- FRA yellow sill stripe with white stepwells
- “No Excessive Horn Blowing” sticker
All of the IC GP40s are "ready to weather" and thus feature a matte black finish. They also have the 3,200 gallon fuel tank and that awesome IC "Death Star" logo.
The standard features of a Rapido GP40R:
- Rapido’s innovative dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
- Incredible underframe detail including traction motor cables, air filters
- Separate metal grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
- Highly detailed cab interior
- See-through, etched steps
- Cannon and Company licensed fans
- Detailed Blomberg B truck with traction motor details
- Dual-mode DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
We have only made 100 per number. We expect these to sell out very quickly, so order yours ASAP.
That was a lot of detail info. OK, now for the art!
| | Get your orders in! We cannot stress enough that these GP40Rs will be very limited in quantity, so place your orders now through your favorite dealer or directly from us. They're currently in-production as we speak! | | How the times change! A Milwaukee Road cab car runs through a scene that has changed drastically since this photo was taken in 1973. Photo courtesy of Lou Gerard. | | |
NEW! HO Scale Budd Rock Island and Milwaukee Road Gallery Cars
You asked — we delivered! Ever since we announced our HO Scale Budd Gallery Cars in the CB&Q specifications, we've been hearing requests for the Rock Island and Milwaukee versions. We teased them at Naperville and Trainfest and now it's time to properly announce these Chicagoland commuter icons.
In case you missed the launch video, click here to watch.
| A quick render of the Milwaukee Road cab car. | This is a Jeff photo. It is useful to have a local Rapido employee in Chicagoland. | |
Chicago's Southside commuting has always been an eclectic mix of equipment. The Rock Island always put on a show with their usage of E-Units and Gallery Cars. The Budd versions, while not as colorful as the Pullman Standard ones, had a sleek, modern feel next to one of their dazzling red and yellow E8As. Since these engines were equipped with Head End Power (HEP), the cars didn't require a power car.
On the Northside, the Milwaukee Road operated their version of the Gallery Cars. Just like the RI, the Milwaukee had HEP-equipped E-Units. On off-peak runs, this would create interesting one car, one locomotive consists!
By the way, scroll down for those E-Units. We're announcing them in this very newsletter! Woo-hoo!
| Another Lou Gerard photo shows a location vastly different from today. | |
Today, Metra continues to operate this large fleet of Gallery Cars. Over time, many of the cab cars were converted to trailer-only status and had their cab controls removed and operator windows blanked out. This neat addition will be fully captured on this run!
Another exciting addition is a group of similarly-built Gallery Cars that wear BNSF markings. These cars sometimes make their way out of BNSF territory and can be seen on both the Northwest and Southwest Districts.
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The car above has had its cab windows plated over. This creates a rather odd look.
Below, this is a BNSF car, complete with the RTA logo.
Hey, Chicago! We made F59s too!
We have your back!
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Here are the HO Scale Budd RI and MILW Gallery Car features:
- Designed from original blueprints, design drawings and field measurements
- Rock Island, Milwaukee and BNSF car types with Metra-modified blanked cab car end version!
- Free-rolling, highly detailed trucks with metal wheelsets
- Full underbody including HEP conduit and equipment
- Complete interior including actual “gallery” seating
- Accurate painting and lettering, both inside and out
- Correctly-colored tinted windows
- Metal side grab irons and sprung diaphragms
- Constant flicker-free interior lighting in both DC and DCC
- MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC passenger car lighting
- Controllable cab car lighting in both DC and DCC, including headlights, marker lights, as well as ditch lights and beacons (where appropriate)
- Suggested minimum radius: 22"
Now, for the schemes! You'll note that like the CB&Q-style cars, there will be the same 3-pack variations: two coaches and a cab car as well as three coaches. The design is 99% done and these will go to tooling in the coming days.
| | We know the Rock Island and Milwaukee style Gallery cars will be a popular item. To reserve yours, order them from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
The classic look of the Rock Island E-Units. 661 and 665 are seen at Joliet.
Photo courtesy of Lou Gerard.
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NEW! HO Scale Modernized E-Units
The extravagant, exciting and electrifying E-Units are back in a fresh variety of Head End Power units (plus one with steam heat, as well). Before we jump in, click here to watch the launch video.
| Right hand running on the C&NW! 510 shoves an inbound run into their stop at Arlington Heights, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Lou Gerard. | | In Chicago, when one mentions HEP and E-Units, the general thought is BN's iconic fleet that ran into the western suburbs. What many overlook are the Milwaukee Road, Chicago & Northwestern and Rock Island's smaller fleets of HEP-equipped E-Units. In fact, when you look at photos you'll see that not one was the same! Each had its own unique quirks. | |
Milwaukee Road 37C runs through a scene that has drastically changed.
Photo courtesy of Lou Gerard.
| The Rock Island and Milwaukee Road E-Units go hand in hand with our HO Scale Gallery Cars. Before Metra, commuters would ride whichever road offered services through their town. On the Northside, Milwaukee ran north to Fox Lake, Illinois, and northwest to Elgin, Illinois. These E-Units were painted in the 1955 armour yellow colors. Not one unit was the same from the other with mismatched portholes, roof details and more. | After their commuter assignments ended, Rock Island placed the E-Units back into freight service. Photo courtesy of Lou Gerard. | |
On the Southside, the Rock Island ran southwest to Joliet, Illinois, on today's "Rock Island District." These E-Units wore a flashy red and yellow scheme that accentuated the stainless steel gallery cars. They also joined an equally assorted fleet of locomotives and cars operated in this service.
After the RTA F40PHs arrived, Rock Island placed their E-Units back into freight service. More reasons to get these! These would be bundled together at times, creating some neat consists like the one above.
| | RI 662 arriving at Joliet with three Gallerys. Photo courtesy of John Lassahn. | | |
Rounding out our Modernized E-Units are Conrail's early, all-blue Office Car Special unit and New York, Susquehanna and Western's two ex-BN E9Am locomotives.
Did you know the NYS&W E-Units ALSO ran with the Cape Cod Central Balloon Top Coaches? Yes they did! After their service ended on the Susquehanna, the two big Es wound up on the Cape Cod Central for a number of years. A perfect complement for those Balloon Tops!
Conrail 4022 was the ONLY E-Unit on the roster to wear the blue scheme with white "can opener" logos. 4022 received this repaint in late 1976. This ex-Erie Lackawanna E8A would go on to power OCS trains before being repainted into the Pullman green scheme, matching 4020 and 4021.
| Conrail 4022 sits with another ex-Erie Lackawanna E-Unit in Hoboken, New Jersey. For a time, the 4022 was in commuter service while it wore its classic blue scheme. | |
Last but not least is NYS&W 2400 and 2402, both E9am E-Units. In the mid-1990s, the NYS&W purchased two ex-BN E9ams from Metra. Their intended purpose was for OCS service but with most scrappy regional railroads, they were pressed into freight service when needed! It wasn't uncommon to see an SD45, E9 and another freight locomotive hauling one of their intermodal or manifest trains.
You could also see both the 2400 and 2402 teamed up with their steam locomotive, number 142, on excursions in New Jersey and New York. Their service to the NYS&W was interesting to say the least!
| In the late 1990s, the NYS&W along with the NYSWTHS ran some neat trips with the E-Units and their steam engine, number 142. Photo courtesy of Otto Vondrak. | | |
Time to get ecstatic for E-Unit features!
- 3D laser-scanned body shell
- Accurate nose and roof contours
- Seven different noses and three different back ends
- HEP or steam generator roof top details (where appropriate)
- Two different sides – with and without lifting lug covers
- Three different steam generator options
- 36” fan, 48” fan or non-dynamic brake options
- Single- or dual-headlight configurations
- Freight or passenger pilots
- Three styles of side grills
- Numerous road-specific detail parts in both plastic and metal
- Original porthole sides or rebuilt blanked sides (including
- unique variations)
- Skirted or non-skirted fuel tanks
- Original square and slope or Hyatt roller bearing journal boxes
- Heavy die-cast chassis
- Smooth running drive system with all wheels powered
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
- Complete lighting effects – headlights, class lights, backup lights, ground lights, cab lights and more
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
Next up we have the schemes for this run. My favorite is the Rock Island version.
| | These elegant, enchanting E-Units will be a popular model. Reserve yours by ordering them from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
NEW AND IN STOCK! HO Scale Trenton Works 6637 cu.ft. BC Rail Boxcar
The HO Scale Trenton Works 6637 cu.ft BC Rail Boxcars are here! Not only are these beautiful boxcars being formally announced but they're also in stock, ready to ship! Click here or the photo above to watch the launch video.
| The BC Rail boxcars look great! | | |
Forest products have long been the lifeblood of the British Columbia Railway (from the 1990s onward, BC Rail). In the early 1990s, BC Rail set out to revitalize their rolling stock fleet to better serve this essential industry. In need of a high-capacity boxcar to transport lumber goods to both the Canadian and US markets, the BC Rail turned to Trenton Works in Nova Scotia to build a 66' car.
The BC Rail Boxcars were based on a similar design that was built for the Canadian National. Between March and April of 1995, Trenton Works delivered 150 cars in the 60100 to 60249 number series. These Plate E cars were painted in an attractive dark green with the stylized BC Rail logo. The design featured an interesting combo door setup with one sliding door and one, smaller plug door for a 16’ opening. These also featured the distinctive tapered side sill — a design that would disappear with future orders from Trenton in 1996 and 1997.
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Despite BC Rail being a bit remote in the northwest, these cars made the way across all of North America. In fact, you could see these cars in the southeast on Norfolk Southern or CSX, in the Northeast on Conrail and Pan Am Railways, in the Midwest on Illinois Central and in the west on BNSF and Union Pacific. Their services would increase or decrease when the housing and building markets would fluctuate. In fact, it was fairly common to see a grouping of these cars mixed into a manifest.
In addition to the 1995-era delivery scheme, we also have faded out variations with conspicuity stripes for post-2000 era modellers. There are two different versions of stripe patterns: vertical and horizontal.
| | The prototype in a group of cars. Photo courtesy of Dan Garcia. | | |
The BC Boxcar, Rapido's version, above.
The popular ROLX scheme, below.
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The Rapido Trenton Works 6637 Boxcar features:
- Designed from original blueprints and field measurements.
- Correct handbrake styles and housings
- Barber S-2 cast steel trucks
- Full underbody detailing
- Correct brake platforms and running boards
- Semi-scale couplers and coupler boxes
- Free rolling turned metal wheels
- Accurate paint and lettering
- Multiple road numbers available per scheme
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
The Rapido-branded cars are being sold at a huge discount as we want to see Rapido cars on your layouts!
We got the schemes! Now, we really have some neat schemes for you. Check them out below. You'll notice some neat patch-outs too!
| | The Rapido Trains and everyone's favorite mysterious road: Railroad of Lies, round out the roads we're offering. Remember, just because the BC Rail cars normally hauled lumber products, doesn't mean you have to stop the fun there! In fact, just imagine if the RPDX cars carry a load of Mystery Boxes or the ROLX cars haul pallets of kazoos. OK, probably not, but that's the fun of it! | | The Trenton Works 6637 cu.ft. Boxcars are in stock, ready to ship! Scoop them up now by ordering them from your local hobby shop or directly through from us. | | |
NEW SCHEMES AND ROADNUMBERS: N Scale Wide Vision Caboose
Take a big bite out of our N Scale Angus Wide Vision Caboose. OK, maybe that's a bad idea. It's plastic, after all, but this run should easily satisfy your hunger for more N scale cabooses! And these now have track-powered lighting!
In case you missed the video we've discussed in the five sections above, click here to watch it.
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The scheme that started it all! CP Rail's classic yellow body and large Multimark logo.
Below, the special CSX Safety caboose, complete with tons of logos.
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Between 1972 and 1981, CP’s Angus Shops in Montreal built over 300 modern, wide-vision “vans." For all you guys not wearing toques, "van" is Canadian for “caboose.” Hence the "Angus Van" name that stuck with them throughout their careers. They proved popular with crews and many are still on the road today as shoving platforms, rider cars in MOW service or living a second life on other railroads.
WAIT! This is a Canadian caboose van thing? Well yes, but we thought what if we applied more than just those Canadian roads to the caboose. What happened next was a stroke of genius. These cabooses look GREAT in just about any scheme applied to them! Our initial run proved that, as many nearly outsold CP! Some of these roads make a return while we've added some new schemes to the mix!
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The TTX Company caboose with the neat TTX logo and rooftop air conditioners.
Below, we see the underbody details. Lots of them!
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Check out the N Scale Wide Vision Caboose features:
- Now featuring track powered interior lighting and operating end marker lights on DC and DCC
- Super-detailed underbody including all separate air and brake piping
- Free rolling Barber-Bettendorf caboose trucks
- Detailed interior
- Full end detail, including uncoupling levers
- Separate metal grab irons installed at the factory
- "Warm white" lights that aren't too bright!
- Optional roof mounted air conditioner
- Optional fuel oil tank details (road name dependent)
- Knuckle couplers mounted at the correct height
- Suggested minimum radius: 9 3/4"
Now, have a take a look at all 27 schemes on this run.
| | Order all 27 schemes! That would be crazy, but if you want to, you can order them from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
Rapido and Me
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!).
| | Josh Bowman sent us this photo of his SD10 running through town. Looks great! | Our good friend, Chris Adams sent us this photo of his 44-Tonner on his New Haven layout. | | |
Trainland Meet and Greet with Jason — Sunday December 21st
Come on out to Trainland on Long Island on December 21st, 2-4 p.m. to meet and chat with Jason! Stop by to chat, buy some Rapido product and just have a great time! In fact, we hear he might even perform scenes from Star Trek, but not that "Mirror, Mirror" bit when Captain Kirk yells at all the Trekkies and says "Get a life!" Hang on, that was Saturday Night Live... 🤔
If you take mass transit to the store, you might just be riding something we're working on. What could this be? Does it go toot-toot? Do pizza rats ride on them? You'll just have to wait and see. 😉
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Railroad Hobby Show (Springfield) — January 24th and 25th, 2026
The famous Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show is just about a month and a half away! We're already compiling the models and samples we'll have on display and we will be in the Better Living Center this year! We'll have more details once they're out.
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Tooling, Shipping and Arrival Updates
LOTS of new items are here and shipping! If you did not receive your N scale RDC from your local dealer, all we can say is that all dealers who are in good standing have already received their RDCs.
Don't see the model you're looking for, above? Click here to visit our delivery schedule to find out where it might be.
| | We have new decorated CF7 samples! The Santa Fe pinstripe, Warbonnet and LAJ schemes look dazzling! | | We mentioned the GP40s were already in-production. We weren't kidding! Above are the CN long hoods. Below, are some cabs awaiting paint. | | |
New U25B samples! They look great on that diorama.
Below we have the SCL/CSX version.
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Above we see the Milwaukee Road version, with the dual front windshields.
Below, we see the SP version complete with extra lights.
| | FT bodies! These are just getting their paint in. Next stop is the pad printing station. | The M60A1 Tanks are looking great! | Those camouflage patterns are intense but look superb. | The 5-inch/54-caliber Mark 42 gun mounts! | | HO Centerbeams! The TTX and BC Rail versions. | The rear ends. Note all of the neat text on the cars. | | And last but not least, Jason shared this image with me today: | | 3D designs for our forthcoming Budd VIA coaches | | |
For years we've had requests for proper VIA HEP1 end details on our modern "Canada" scheme VIA coaches. Jason finally listened!
The designs were done a while ago and these new variations are well into tooling. Also note the HEP2 coach end on the left, which is quite different! The red marker lights will work on both the HEP1 and HEP2 cars.
| | Jordan grabbed this shot of his car a few months ago. Oh, and a gorgeous HEP2 train was behind it. But he really just wanted to photograph his car. | | |
Talk about mission creep! We originally announced our steam-equipped ex-CP coach in HEP2 colours. Now we're tooling three different variations of HEP2 cars with the correct underbody and end equipment, and we're tooling HEP1 ends for the first time. This is really cool!
Click here for the Canadian/ROW website. Click here for the American website. And click here for the sales pack.
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That's it for 217. We hope you enjoyed this edition and all of the brand new announcements! We also want to wish all of our American friends a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!
Gobble gobble.
“People train runs out of...Stubville.”
Bobby Allard
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USA: 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204, USA
Canada: 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, ON L3R 5H5
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