|
Rapido Newsletter Vol. 218
©2025 Rapido Trains Inc.
| | |
Dear Rapido Customer,
It's the holiday season, which means we are kicking off with some very important deadline announcements to round out the year. Put on your new Rapido beanies or toques, some cozy socks and check out our new photos, product updates and much more!
| | |
In the 218th issue...
- December Order Deadlines
- January Order Deadlines
- Rapido Exclusives
- Last Call for Mystery Boxes
- Rapido and Me
- New Videos
- Events and Shows
- Tooling, Factory and Shipping Updates
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.
| | |
Order Deadline: December 15th, 2025
| | Our new order deadline video is live! Click here or on the picture above to watch! | | The station scene is absolutely phenomenal! Photo courtesy of Mark Estrada. | |
HO Scale BART Legacy Fleet
Those extremely popular HO Scale BART Legacy Fleet Cars have an order deadline of December 15th! We're encouraging everyone that wants these cars to get their orders in before the deadline, since the initial run sold out almost as soon as it hit the shelves.
| |
That box is a work of art!
Below, you can "c" the C car.
| Don't forget on this run we're offering TWO Bicentennial schemes: an A-B-B-A set as well as the single light gray A car, which was a standalone test scheme. Check out some of the 3D renders we have of those schemes, below. | |
Here are the 3D renders of the Bicentennial cars.
Note the test car with the lighter shade of gray to the right.
| The HO Scale BART Legacy Fleet Cars feature a plethora of details, both inside and out! In case you wanted to see for yourself, watch our unboxing video by clicking here. | |
Head on over to our BART masterclass to learn more about these special cars. Craig Walker did an outstanding job with this masterclass, which includes information about the history of BART, infrastructure and current day operations. It's filled with photos, car info graphics and maps! Click here or the photo above to go over to it.
Click here to watch BART's Jay Sathe and Jordan discuss the history of BART and the Legacy Fleet.
| BART in a tube! Photo courtesy of Mark Estrada. | |
Each HO Scale BART Legacy Fleet Cars feature...
Heck, you've seen the videos and this is a second production run. We can skip the features. This newsletter gets too long. As a reminder, new for this run are:
- Individual A Cars (powered)
- C-B-B-C Sets (C Cars powered, B Cars unpowered)
- Note these have nothing to do with the C-Beebies on the BBC.
- A-B-B-A Sets (A Cars powered, B Cars unpowered)
- Note these have nothing to do with Swedish cheese disco.
- Individual C Cars (powered)
- Individual B Cars (unpowered)
- A Cars with Display Case (unpowered)
Here are the illustrations of the A, B and C cars:
| Don't let the train leave without you! Get your orders in by contacting your favorite hobby shop or directly from us. | | |
HO Scale SP Dome Lounge Car
Our new run of iconic, flashy and always pleasing HO Scale SP Dome Lounge Car will be closing out on December 15th. We only gave a short order deadline for these as everybody is screaming for them. This new run includes a number of returning stars such as Canadian Pacific's (now CPKC) Selkirk plus some never before done schemes!
Click here to watch the deadline video. Also, if you've never seen these in person, you will want to watch our unboxing video. Click here to watch our unboxing video.
| We know we keep showing you this photo but every time we look at that map on the interior wall we can't help but smile. Plus the interior wall decor on the SP versions, too. | As mentioned before, Canadian Pacific's Dome Lounge Car Selkirk is returning on this run! During their "Final Spike" tour with 2816, this car was part of the consist that traveled from Calgary, Alberta, through the United States to Mexico City. | The CP Dome Lounge looks great in the maroon. | |
Pull up and check out our SP Dome Lounge Masterclass! It features the backstory to the designs, an in-depth roster and, of course, lots of photos! This was compiled by Craig Walker and Robert J. Zenk. Bob was instrumental not only with research on this iconic model but was also directly involved with the design.
Oh yes, you need the link for that masterclass. Click here to head over to it.
| |
The HO Scale SP Dome Lounge Car feature:
-
NEW SCHEMES: SP/Amtrak leased cars with silver underbodies and Panama Canal Railway
- We don't need to give you any more features. You know this car!
Now for the schemes.
| If you missed out on the initial run, make sure to reserve one of these cars today! You can do that at your local hobby shop or directly from us. | | |
HO Scale Hawker Siddeley Van (Caboose)
The Hawker Siddeley Caboose deadline is also on December 15th. We're very excited to send this run off to production as we know the last run sold out immediately! In fact, due to our system problems with setting up the US warehouse, a lot of people missed this model. We apologize again for that.
If you have not seen these in detail yet, please click here to watch our unboxing video.
| All about the details! Underneath, too. | |
Above we see CN 79329 with that crazy worn look.
Photo courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
| |
Do you like your cabooses a bit...dirty? CN 79329 represents a neat look these cabooses had during their hard working careers. The paint faded along the side walls, which created a haunting red and black "streaked" look. Our caboose will use UV four-colour printing to recreate these streaks and fading.
Learn all about the Hawker Siddeley Caboose (Van) by visiting the masterclass. Click here to go over to it.
| Plenty of details for our caboose interiors! It might be unpainted but it really highlights EVERYTHING that goes into one caboose. | In a previous newsletter we featured a photo from Kris Andrade. He sent an image of a CN Hawker Siddeley Caboose out in Biggar, Saskatchewan. In these days of cabooses becoming a forgotten commodity it's always neat to come across one in great condition, no less! Below, you'll see CN 79291, looking pretty good. | |
The HO Scale Hawker Siddeley Cabooses feature:
- NEW SCHEMES: CN faded, Ottawa Central ex-DEVCO, CN ex-DEVCO and Unlettered (Yellow or Red versions)
- Super-detailed yadda yadda yadda
- You don't the feature list. Just watch the video or, better yet, order yours today!
Let's see those beautiful schemes!
| Order your Hawker Siddeley van, caboose, hack, crummie, waycar, thing on wheels, whatever you may call it from your favourite hobby shop or directly from us. | | |
HO Scale ACF Helium Car
OK folks, it's finally time to send the HO Scale ACF Helium Car to production! The final order deadline is on December 15th. After all this time, including a relaunch, we are excited to get these cars into production and we're certain they'll look great mixed into your manifests. Click here to watch the deadline video.
| Tons of detail which includes: full piping, metal grab irons, brake rigging and contoured helium tubes inside the frame! | For over four decades, NASA regularly utilized the Helium Cars with many remaining in service for the duration of the shuttle program through 2011. These cars were handed off to the Florida East Coast Railway near Cape Canaveral. While not many photos exist of these movements, it is neat to imagine two or three FEC GP40s hauling these cars in a mixed consist! | Check out the undercarriage details. | |
As we never did a video for this car, we think the features are good to include. So... all of those HO Scale ACF Helium Cars feature:
The Nasa and ATMX cars will feature the solid bearing trucks. The early MHAX cars will have the solid bearing trucks applied but will come with roller bearing sideframes in the polybag. All other cars will receive roller bearing trucks.
- Newly tooled from original blueprints and measurements
- Highly detailed underbody detail and piping
- Separate metal grab irons
- Stainless steel roofwalk
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- Free-rolling trucks with profiled metal wheelsets
- Available as single car or six-packs unless noted
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
Here are the schemes. The newest additions (USNX and NLAX) are at the top.
| Hammer that order button to get yourself a helping of these cars! You can also order them from your favorite hobby shop. | | |
HO Scale SP PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcar
OK Southern Pacific and freight car fans. The SP PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcars also have an order deadline on December 15th. We're going to take a quick look at these small but highly important boxcars that continue to operate today. We should have a new sampler to show off in the near future.
Click here to watch the deadline video.
The sample you see below was taken to a lot of shows and damaged before we could shoot a video about these cars. However, a new sample is arriving in the next few days. We will put a video online as soon as it arrives.
A couple of our experts noticed that the roof on our original sample was a bit "chunky." We agreed and we retooled the roof to be more accurate. The new roof will be on the new sample.
| The PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcars were built for the purpose of copper anode service in the southwest US. They weren't just limited to these areas though and were often seen all across the country. In fact, when not hauling copper anodes, a good portion of cars were used in a wide variety of other services for the SP. | Many of the PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcars were refurbished and repainted into SP's Golden West program. These cars were re-marked for the Galveston Railway (GVSR), a subsidiary of SP. Fifty more were be leased to the CP, under their CPAA marks. Once the lease ran out, these 50 returned to the SP. | After the Union Pacific merger in 1996, the PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcars were gradually sold off to secondary owners. Many went to the Northwestern Oklahoma Railroad (NOKL). In 2010, the cars were sold again, but this time to the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER). As of late 2025, a handful of these cars have been photographed operating all across the United States. These cars really do have nine lives! | |
The HO Scale B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcars feature:
- Separately applied metal grab irons
- Etched metal coupler platforms
- Scale sized draft gear with Hydra-Cushion underframe
- Full underbody brake rigging
- Real rubber air hoses
- Three door styles (Youngstown or Superior or... a different Youngstown!)
- Separately applied etched metal coupler cut levers
- Separate door tracks
- Factory-installed Rapido semi-scale knuckle couplers
- 100-ton trucks with turned metal 36” wheels
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
These cars wear the iconic SP scheme as well as many colorful repaints. Here are the schemes we're doing on this run.
| If you have heavy loads that need protection from the elements, such as copper anodes, you'll want these cars on your layout. There aren't enough 40-foot modern boxcar models out there. So you need these. Like, now. Order them from your favorite hobby dealer or directly from us. | | |
Order Deadline: January 15th, 2026
| |
HO Scale F30A and F30D MOW Flatcars
The order deadline for the HO Scale F30A and F30D MOW Flatcars is on January 15th, 2026. We're eager like a beaver, waiting for samples of the latest versions of these cars. We'll report back in a month on what we have! Until then, click here to watch the launch video.
These MOW cars are proving to be among our most popular freight cars ever. They will look amazing on your layout, and we even offer unlettered camp vans which you can decal for your home road.
| So far the HO Scale F30A and F30D MOW Flatcars have been a big hit. Let's not stop until we make this the most popular project of 2026. Order them from your favorite dealer or directly through us. | | |
Dealer Exclusive Models
Many of our product releases feature Dealer Exclusive Models that have unique paint schemes or road numbers. Let's take a look at some of the current exclusives, both in-production and available for preorder.
We'll start off with Otter Valley Railroad's exclusive models.
| | |
Otter Valley Railroad — Ontario Southland GP9u
Otter Valley Railroad is commissioning a special run of HO Scale Ontario Southland GP9u Locomotives. Two of these are painted in the incredibly attractive maroon and crème scheme, an ode to the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo. They will be offering three numbers in two variations: CP Multimark patchout (1591) and the corporate maroon scheme (1594/1620).
Don't miss out on these, as they won't last! Get your orders in at Otter Valley Railroad.
| |
Otter Valley Railroad — Canadian National GP40
Up next from Otter Valley Railroad are the Canadian National GP40s in the stripes scheme. These wear road numbers: 9312, 9313 and 9316. 9312 and 9316 have similar hood stripes while 9313 features stripes that start further away from the rear of the cab.
Place your orders now through at Otter Valley Railroad.
| |
New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association — New Haven 40' 1937 AAR Boxcars
The New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association is offering these neat HO Scale 1937 40' AAR Boxcars in three different schemes! Each scheme will feature three different road numbers as well as a variety of detail variations. Check out the photo above to see specifics about each car. Click here or the image above to order them.
| |
Don't miss out on the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Historical Society's Alco FA-1, number 857! This neat 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. 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. That's a great incentive to help them out!
Click here to order one of these FA-1s direct from them now!
| |
Hyce Trains — Steel Riveted Caboose
Our friends at Hyce Trains are offering three ES&D schemes on the Steel Riveted Caboose. These have been VERY popular so far and we hear orders for all three have been strong. Get your orders in ASAP over at the Hyce Trains Shop.
| |
Boréal Trains — New Look Buses
Boréal Trains of Rimouski, Quebec, is offering the New Look Bus decorated in seven iconic Quebec schemes. Check out the photo above to see which ones. Click here to order them.
| | |
🎄 Last Call For the Mystery Boxes 🎄
The Christmas Mystery Boxes are moving out the door in a hurry! Get your orders in before December 14th to have these by Christmas. In case you didn't see the video, click here or the photo box above to watch.
| | |
The "Platinum" DCC/Sound HO Scale Mystery Box
$299.95 USD • $359.95 CAD
The popular Platinum Boxes returned and are selling FAST! We announced these in late November and so far we have sold through 90% of our stock. The Platinum Boxes include at least one HO Scale DCC/Sound Locomotive, as well as a helping of freight cars (along with our usual surprises).
Hurry, order today as these are flying out of the warehouse!
| |
The "Silver" HO Scale Freight Car Mystery Box
$179.95 USD • $199.95 CAD
The all-freight Mystery Box is another popular option. These include exactly what it implies: nothing but freight cars! Perfect in case your layout only has locomotives or you just aren't a fan of the things that make noise and light up.
Just like the rest of the boxes, these are selling FAST! Order yours today so you don't miss out.
| | |
Rapido and Me
As I said, the Mystery Boxes are selling very well! We are delighted to share some of the unboxings we've already seen in the wild below! Remember, you still have time to order yours but you may get it after Christmas. We want to thank you for the incredible success of the mystery boxes this year. We are nearly sold out! Make sure to order yours now while quantities last.
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!). You can also send them to us via Morse Code if you please.
| | YouTuber Michael Ostertag starts off this Rapido and Me: Mystery Box Edition with his Platinum Box! Click here or the photo above to watch his score. | Up next is a video from Scott Rails. He unboxes his Gold DC Box! Click here or the photo above to watch. P.S. We love that accent! | SouthernRailFan unboxes ALL FOUR boxes! Click here or the photo above to see what he got—which could be similar to what you might get. Thanks for the support, SouthernRailFan! | Parts323 unboxes his Platinum Mystery Box and we can really feel the enthusiasm! Click here or the photo above to find our why he was so excited. Always glad we could make one's day! 😁 | | |
Rapido YouTube Shorts
Have you seen our YouTube shorts? If not, click here or the photo above to head over to our YouTube shorts page. We're constantly adding new videos every few days, so subscribe to get the latest alerts when we post something new!
| | |
Trainland Meet and Greet with Jason — Sunday December 21st
Jason's visit to Trainland in on December 21st, 2-4 p.m., which is just a few days away! Northeasterners, this is your chance to meet him and shop at a great store! Take a bus, take a rideshare, but we encourage taking a train of some sort that's nice, shiny and silverish. 😉
Check our Facebook or Trainworld's Facebook for actual times when they are announced.
| | |
Railroad Hobby Show (Springfield) — January 24th and 25th, 2026
The Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show is next month! Can you believe it's almost that time, again? The Super Bowl (Grey Cup) of train shows returns during the coldest time of the year in a place it snows by the buckets. (Ed: Good job, Bobby. You just jinxed it.)
We can't wait for this show as we'll be in the Better Living Center this year! The booth number is 23. I think Hosehead Shron may be joining us on the Sunday. So if you didn't meet him at Trainland, and you are upset that your LRC model does not have an RDC-4 to go with it, that will be your chance to complain loudly to the boss.
| | |
Tooling, Shipping and Arrival Updates
LOTS of new items are here and shipping! Here is what we have going on:
Don't see the model you're looking for above? Click here to visit our delivery schedule to find out where it might be.
| | The Missouri Pacific "Eagle" E-Unit. These are in stores now! | | The Greenbrier Coil Cars will be shipping shortly! | | |
My favorite: the South Shore Freight scheme!
Although rather bland, the Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad version gets the job done.
| | Union Pacific's version above.
Below, we have the ROLX version. | | The Trenton Works 6348 Boxcar samples are here! | | As delivered and the later conspicuity striped cars. | | We can't forget about the ROLX cars! | | HO Greenbrier Reefers! These are in the print shop and should be done very soon. | | |
That's all, folks! Make sure to get all of your orders in for these important deadlines by December 15th. And don't forget in a few weeks is our annual Christmas Day newsletter, which we're sure will bring you many surprises!
Bobby Allard
Newsletter Elf on the Shelf
| | |
USA: 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204, USA
Canada: 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, ON L3R 5H5
| | Subscribe to our Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channel! | | | | |
