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Rapido Newsletter Vol. 222
©2026 Rapido Trains Inc.
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Dear Rapido Customer,
This is the big show launch! We're talking about locomotives that chug and smoke, both passenger and freight.
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In this 222nd issue...
- New Announcements
- Come Visit Us at the Show!
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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The Big "Universal Series" Launch!
The big GE "Universal Series" launch is here in HO scale! We have FOUR locomotives to unveil:
These locomotives cover nearly four decades in a wide variety of services ranging from freight and long distance passenger runs to commuter assignments. In their prime you could find at least one of these locomotives in any part of the country!
We'll kick it off with Santa Fe's U30CG Locomotive.
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NEW! HO Scale Santa Fe U30CG Locomotive
From the files of the odd and unique, here comes the Rapido HO Scale Santa Fe U30CG Locomotive! Nothing better than a loco that chugs while wearing the classic red and silver Warbonnet scheme!
Click here or the photo box above to watch the video.
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Santa Fe 404 leads a short passenger train.
Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection.
| By the mid-1960s, most class one railroads couldn’t discontinue their passenger operations fast enough. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, however, went against the grain during this period and purchased new diesel locomotives from both EMD and GE. A total of six U30CG Locomotives were be delivered in 1967, numbered 400-405. These were quickly pressed into service on many of the Santa Fe’s premier passenger trains such as Super Chief and the Grand Canyon Limited, as well as other secondary services like the Texas Chief and San Diegan. | The U30CG came complete with a full-width cowl carbody featuring steam generator equipment and stainless steel fluting to match the Santa Fe’s large passenger car fleet. The rounded nose up front also distinguished it from the earlier U28CG. | |
Some of the stepwells feature those unique cutouts along the walls.
Each roadnumber will have the correct stepwell features.
Yes, we are tooling several variations of this part!
| 404 is seen again, this time with a U28CG and an SD45 building a trailer train in Kansas City. Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection. | |
Despite their passenger-focused design, the U30CG had very short careers in passenger service. A wreck in 1969 soured the ATSF on the big GE units and, despite being cleared for service, they were shifted mostly to high-priority freights. In the spring of 1970, all six were renumbered 8000-8005 and, with few exceptions, never lead a passenger train again.
Despite their short careers, they ended up wearing multiple paint schemes. Some briefly got the blue and yellow bookend scheme in 1971 before the entire fleet ended up in yellow warbonnet in 1973. By the late 1970s, the new paint faded and chipped away in spots, revealing the original red and silver beneath. It seems that the classic warbonnet could not be contained! We are making two of these weathered units!
| 8002 leads a manifest in the later yellow warbonnet era with the smaller cigar band logo and the rebuilt pilots. Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection. | The heavily faded 8001 with the red starting to bleed through. Photo courtesy of Craig Walker. | |
The HO Scale Santa Fe U30CG Locomotives feature:
- All new, from the ground up, the Rapido U30CG sets a new standard for passenger power!
- First time in HO Scale ready-to-run plastic!
- Tons of scheme and roadnumber specific detailing representing both their passenger and freight careers
Other features of the Rapido U30CG include:
- Design created from original measurements taken when they were in service
- Accurate nose and roof contours
- Three different back ends
- Passenger and freight configurations
- Roadnumber specific stepwells
- Heavy die-cast chassis
- Smooth running drive system with all wheels powered
- Silent or DC/DCC/ESU V5 Sound options available
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
- Complete lighting effects – headlights, class lights, backup lights, step lights and more
- Numerous road-specific detail parts in both plastic and metal
- Wire metal grab irons
- Etched metal grille work
- Full cab interior
- Tons of underbody detailing
Here are the schemes for these neat locomotives. As mentioned above, we are making two of these engines with the original warbonnet fading through. We have photos of all sides of 8001 and 8002 in this condition and will be using a combination of pad printing and UV 3D printing to achieve the effect. You will definitely want one or both of these!
| Order the U30CG Locomotives today! You can do so from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. The design is done and tooling is starting imminently. | | |
NEW! HO Scale U33C and U36C Locomotives
You've asked so many times and we're finally listening with the launch of the HO Scale U33C and U36C Locomotives! These popular "Universal Series" locomotives were the backbone of the merger era from Class 1s to commuter operations. Let's dig in to the info.
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In the late 1960s, locomotive manufacturers EMD, Alco, and GE were all in a race to offer powerful new 6-axle locomotives to railroads hauling heavier, longer trains. After several earlier models that were met with lukewarm sales, GE switched to a 67' 3" frame with a reworked carbody — the classic “U boat” design that lasted until the Dash-7 and Dash-8 era.
The U33C introduced a new signature feature on GE models: wings at the radiator section for a wider cooling surface. The locomotives were rated at 3,300 horsepower with a total of 375 models sold. In typical fashion, Southern Pacific held the title for largest number owned while S J Groves & Sons Construction purchased two for a highway construction project in New Jersey.
Jason: That's really important, Bobby.,
Bobby: It is! They are a cult! You should see how much the slides go for on eBay!
| The iconic Southern Pacific had the big U33Cs! Not surprisingly, they ordered them with the full light package. They also specified the rooftop bell, as seen on this render. | This awesome shot is courtesy of Craig Walker. 8684 leads two EMDs and another U33C over the famous Cajon Pass. | The very first U33C Locomotive was actually an upgraded order for the U30C ordered by the Milwaukee Road. The Pennsylvania Railroad ordered 30 units, which were delivered in PC paint as they arrived after the merger. These units featured a unique triangular “fairing” that extended from the edge of the hood to the tip of the radiator wings, giving a more streamlined look. They also had phase features common to early U30Cs. The most notable visual feature were the eight battery boxes on the conductor’s side. After early 1969, all big GE’s had the "more condensed" six-box arrangement. | Who doesn't like rear ends? | | |
But wait...there's more! GE’s Universal series also included a 3,600 horsepower model to compete directly with the SD45. Enter the U36C Locomotive. The Clinchfield Railroad was the first customer to order this higher-horsepower model with seven units in 1971. (Fun fact: SP was the only railroad still ordering the U33C model.)
Eventually larger orders were placed by the Santa Fe (100) and Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (NdeM) (104). Both fleets went into extensive service on heavy mountain routes, with 2-4 locomotives in these consists.
| EL 3308 passing through Marion. Today, this is the fastest snowmobile route to Chicago. (Sorry EL fans!) Photo courtesy of John Lassahn. | The U33C and U36C Locomotives were not preserved like many other units of their time. A handful of U33Cs were sold to coal operations in China. Santa Fe rebuilt their U36Cs to C30-7 specifications, creating the SF30C. (No, we're not doing that now. Four engines is enough for one launch!) | Clinchfield 3603 leads an SD40. Those yellow numberboards standout from the rest of the paint. Photo courtesy of John Lassahn. | |
The Rapido U33C and U36C locomotives feature:
- Rotating bearing caps (where appropriate)
- Multiple nose, long hood and cab variations (nose lights, Gyralites, high nose and much more!)
- Full lighting package including track lights, step lights, walkway lights and three-color class lights
- Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
- With or without dynamic brakes (where appropriate)
- Full interior details with lit control stand lights
- Metal grab irons and brake chain
- Prototypically correct tread patterns on walkways
- Correct details for all U33C and U36C phase variations!
- Full traction motor casing details
- Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
- Etched-metal steps with fold-over step edge designs
- Correct GSC or Rockwell trucks
- Rubber sanding lines
- Road-specific fuel tanks
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
The new additions lead off the paint schemes below.
| | Order the U33C and U36C locomotives now! You can get them from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. The design is 99% done - we just need to finalize the wiring with ESU and these will go into tooling. | | |
NEW! HO Scale U34CH Locomotive
New Jersey, the state that gave you The Sopranos, Bruce Springsteen, and Taylor Ham (yes, it IS called that). Did you know NJ was also the first state using a shaft-driven Head End Power (HEP) locomotive? Yes! The U34CH Locomotive was the first to use this new technology and the State of New Jersey reaped the rewards.
Please note that NJ TRANSIT licensing is pending approval and these are preliminary 3D CAD renders.
| The "Bluebirds"! renders of these look great, right down to the SU3L horn and the lack of dynamic brakes. A true New Jersey icon. | |
In 1970, Erie Lackawanna and the New Jersey Department of Transportation teamed up with General Electric to create a locomotive to power their commuter trains in Northern New Jersey. 33 of these units (3351-3382) arrived from Erie, Pennsylvania.
Fun fact: The U34CH actually predated the U36C locomotive by a year!
The U34CH produced 3,600-horsepower using steel-crowned pistons. In order to power the shaft-driven HEP alternator, the FDL prime mover ran at a constant 900 RPM, reducing the actual horsepower output to 3,430. In turn, this is what gave the U34CHs their signature "growl" when in idle at a station stop. When accelerating, they also had a unique "bite" or "chug". This created an unmistakable sound unlike any another locomotive.
Jason: Hmmm, Bobby. You seem to have a vested interest in us selling this locomotive. You are certainly singing its praises more than usual...
Bobby: YES. I NEED ALL OF THEM.
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4173 sits next to an F40PH-2 inside of Dover Yard. At the time, NJ TRANSIT was in the midst of an electrification upgrade to their Morris and Essex Lines.
Unknown photographer, Rapido collection.
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The U34CH Locomotives were painted in an attractive dark blue and silver with red trim, an inverted match to their Pullman-Standard "Comet" car counterparts. (By the way, did we mention we're making those, too?) They received EL diamonds and NJDOT arrow logos. They received the nickname "Bluebirds."
By 1976, the EL was scooped up by the federal government to form Conrail, thus making Conrail the operator of NJ's commuter services. The U34CHs saw their EL diamonds and NJDOT logos removed. By this time, many had already faded anyway. They were assigned new roadnumbers: 4151-4182. One U34CH, ex-3351, was involved in a wreck and upon rebuilding, was outshopped in a attractive Bicentennial scheme with number 1776.
| The unmistakable front of the U34CHs. Complete with the red "bullseye" target on the nose. The HEP and MU details along with the repainted silver nose cap off a great looking locomotive. | In 1983, NJ TRANSIT became the new operator of commuter services. With this change, seven U34CHs received the new "disco" stripes scheme. Nearly all other U34CH Locomotives had their nose fronts repainted silver with the NJ TRANSIT logo applied except the 4172, which retained its as-delivered look right until the end. | NJ TRANSIT 4157 sits in Dover, NJ. The repainted silver nose contrasts sharply with the rest of the unit. Photo by James C. Herold, Rapido collection. | Occasionally the U34CHs escaped the ex-Erie lines and find their way onto the old "P&D" (Gladstone Line). 4159 makes a station stop at Murray Hill — near where this newsletter writer grew up. Unknown photographer, Rapido collection. | |
In the mid-1990s, the end of the U34CH era was approaching. The last U34CH was retired in mid-1994 with NJ TRANSIT teaming up with the United Railroad Historical Society running a Farewell to the U34CH excursion. Numbers 4176 and 4172 were repainted for this event — with 4172 being donated to the URHS. 19 units were eventually sold to GEC-Alstom, where they ended up in Mexico. One U34Ch wound up in Brazil!
Today, the 4172 resides at the URHS' headquarters in Boonton, NJ. The URHS has repainted and renumbered the unit back to 3372 in the classic "Bluebird" scheme. Click here to learn more about it.
Jason: Dude - You're U34CH write up is longer than all the others combined, and we're going to sell like 12 of them.
Bobby: Plus 30 for me!
Jason: We don't make any money on models for you.
Bobby: Trust me - everyone needs this. It will do amazing!
Jason: Well, seeing as you are on the marketing team it looks like 75% of all of our marketing in the next year will be for this engine. It had better do well.
Bobby: If it doesn't, I will take another 30. And I promise to pay for some of them!
Jason: Sigh.
Bobby: Moving right along...
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The HO Scale U34CH Locomotives feature:
- Rotating bearing caps (where appropriate)
- Correct nose "marker light" for when it's shoving the train
- Full lighting package including track lights, step lights, walkway lights and three-color class lights
- Conrail 1776 features the correct post-rebuild numberboards and headlight casing
- Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
- Correct long hood without dynamic brakes
- Full interior details with lit control stand lights
- Metal grab irons and brake chain
- Prototypically correct tread patterns on walkways
- Correct details for all U34CH phase variations!
- Full traction motor casing details
- Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
- Etched-metal steps with fold-over step edge designs
- Correct battery box door arrangements
- Rubber sanding lines
- Road-specific fuel tanks
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
Here are the schemes for these awesome U34CHs.
| | Order your U34CH locomotives now! You can do so from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | Hey, shouldn't the U34CH Locomotives be pulling something...like passenger cars? | | |
Pullman-Standard Comet I "Dieseliners"
Comet I railcars sure sound like a great counterpart to the U34CHs. We had fully intended to launch them side-by-side, but due to multiple newsletters, ads and more, the project manager – aka, the newsletter writer – was a bit busy! Rest assured, he'll have them ready ASAP! The design is underway and just needs a few more things to complete them for launch.
Check back soon for their launch!
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Railroad Hobby Show (Springfield) — January 24th and 25th, 2026
We'll be at the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show all day today and tomorrow in the Better Living Center, booth: 23. (Next to the Amherst Belt Lines modular layout.)
Time:
Saturday, Now to 5PM
Sunday, 10AM to 4PM
Who: The Rapido team including Jason. Yeah, Jason's flight just got cancelled.
Bring: A shovel and Igloo building materials on Sunday
Head on over, gather your questions and be prepared to be wowed by all of our samples!
Jason: And I was all packed and everything!
Bobby: Go play in the snow.
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And so this ends the barrage of new announcements for January. We'll be back in a few weeks to discuss those February order deadlines and maybe even have...more announcements? Do we ever sleep? Nope. Really, we don't. We're bionic.
Bobby Allard
One (Tired) Newsletter Writer
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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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