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Rapido Newsletter Vol. 226
©2026 Rapido Trains Inc.
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Dear Rapido Customer,
It's March Madness!
Consider this the month of passenger rail models! We're introducing new schemes to an existing project, bringing back an old friend and announcing one of the newest commuter railcars in the industry.
So, let's throw up that alley-oop and slam dunk into this newsletter!
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In this 226th issue...
- May 15th Order Deadline: HO Scale CTA 2600 Budd Series 'L' Cars
- New Announcements
- Home Shops Exclusives
- Rapido is Hiring — Warranty Tech
- Events and Shows
- New Videos
- Tooling, Factory and Shipping Updates
- New Photos
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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ORDER DEADLINE MOVED! HO Scale CTA 2600 Budd Series 'L' Cars
MAY 15TH, 2026
Attention transit fanatics! The HO Scale CTA 2600 Budd Series 'L' Cars now have an order deadline set for May 15th, 2026. That's because we have not yet received the sound file from ESU so we can't show you what these sound like. We were supposed to receive it by now. Hopefully ESU comes through and sends us the sound file in the next few days.
In case you missed it (ICYMI— or as Jason likes to say: "icky me"), click here to watch a YouTube short of these cars in action!
We'll be back shortly with a full video about these awesome cars, packed with sounds, runbys and more.
Make sure to get your orders in before the deadline. You can do so from your favorite dealer or directly through us.
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NEW SCHEMES! HO Scale P32AC-DM Locomotive
The HO Scale P32AC-DM returns after a hiatus since our initial launch. We wanted to celebrate its return with TWO NEW SCHEMES! Before we get to them, check out the new video.
Click here or the photo above to watch.
Oh, and we wanted to say: This is NOT a P42. To everyone who told us you bought this on closeout from Athearn? Different engine. This is the real deal Dual-Mode P32AC-DM! It also has a detail level never before seen on a Genesis locomotive, including... THE CORRECT SHAPE!
May 15th is the P32AC-DM order deadline. Let's make this one of the most successful passenger locomotives to date!
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Conrail and New Haven green and gold schemes are the newest additions to the P32AC-DM Locomotives. There seems to be a craze of Conrail heritage locomotives out there and we thought, why not join in on the fun?
Fun fact: Metro-North 201 was sitting in front of Jeff and me when we went to measure the M3 Railcars way back in 2023—where it all started.
Metro-North 222 was released in the attractive New Haven green and gold scheme in 2025. In fact, 222 is the first mainline locomotive to roll out of the (wrap) shop in the green and gold scheme since 1954! If you've been following along with this project you'll note that we originally announced 222 in the current blue, red and silver scheme but changed it to 218. (The ESU recorded the P32AC-DM from 218.) It now comes full-circle as we announce the 222 in the New Haven wrap!
| Now, let's check out those decorated pre-production P32AC-DM Locomotive samples! | Two photos from Dave Abeles' Onondagua Cutoff layout. They look right at home...even if it's a bit west of their usual territory. But wait; we also have an M3A appearance, too! If you used a bit of imagination, this could be somewhere on the Harlem Line. | Exquisite detail, both on the visible areas and underneath. | |
Wait, hold on! We can't forget the Amtrak version!
These 18 P32AC-DM Locomotives make their living in Empire Service®, out of Penn Station to Albany-Rensselear. Currently they are painted in a Phase III variant, funded by the State of New York. They have have previously worn a number of schemes from Phase III, Phase IV and Phase V.
The short air tanks, PTC Antenna arrays, bolt-on noses and cut-in egress hatches make them stand out from the Metro-North versions. (As built Amtrak P32AC-DMs did not have the bolt-on nose or egress hatches.)
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Check out the HO Scale P32AC-DM Locomotives feature:
- Newly tooled from blueprints and measurements - the first Genesis model that is the correct shape!
- Many unique dual-mode underbody components
- Krupp - MaK High Speed Bolsterless Truck with third rail shoe detail
- Piping detail never seen before on a Genesis model
- ATC/Cab signal under-pilot detail (ACSES box)
- P32AC-DM rounded grille over rear radiator
- Nose and rear HEP plugs
- Operating headlight, ditch lights, and marker lights
- Step lights
- Separately applied wire grabs
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC power
- DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound - ESU LokSound V5 Decoder
Metro-North specific features:
- Unique antenna array
- Nose with hatch
- Long air tanks
- Third rail shoes engaged
Now for the schemes. First up are the Metro-North versions with the two new schemes leading off.
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Amtrak® specific P32AC-DM Locomotive features:
- Unique antenna array
- Original and retrofitted nose options
- Short air tanks
- Third rail shoes disengaged
Here are the Amtrak schemes.
| Let's roll up those sleeves and get to work on ordering these superb commuter and intercity passenger locomotives! You can do so from your local hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
Farewell to the LRC!
After 45 years of reliable service, the Bombardier LRC (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) passenger cars are soon to be retired. To celebrate the incredible achievement of this passenger car fleet, Rapido Trains Inc. is delighted to introduce a special commemorative production run of LRC Locomotives and Passenger Cars in HO scale.
Click here or the photo above to watch LRC launch video.
The LRC order deadline is set for JUNE 15TH, 2026. Plenty of time to order all of the sets, locos and cars you may need!
(Scroll down for N scale too!)
| A collage of the LRC's history. How many items do you have in your collection? | Check out those old school food trays! And how can we not comment on this guy's mustache. True early 1980s fashion! (Maybe he's on his way to audition for Magnum, P.I.) | |
VIA 6919 tows three LRC cars along with an F40PH-2D and train set through Bayview Junction. The fall colours of 1991 are just starting to turn in this neat throwback scene.
All models made by Rapido!
Unknown photographer, Rapido collection.
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VIA 6917 tows four LRC cars through Bayview Junction in 1983. An RS-18 comes around the corner. In the distance a CN freight waits. All the passenger models made by Rapido!
Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
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VIA 6915 blasts through Port Hope with a good sized set.
All passenger models made by Rapido!
Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
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NEW ITEM: Special Gift Boxes for the LRC
The LRC is such an important piece of Canadian railway history that we are pulling out all the stops with special gift boxes. For both VIA and Amtrak fans, our sets will be the ultimate celebration of these amazing trains. Each set will contain:
- One LRC locomotive (DC/DCC/Sound)
- Three LRC cars (VIA – 1x VIA 1, 2x Coach. Amtrak – 3x Coach)
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A 48-page, full colour, profusely illustrated and oversized book celebrating the history of the LRC written by renowned Canadian railway historian and author, Kevin J. Holland
- Two LRC commemorative glasses
- A specially designed LRC tie clip and cuff links set, only to be worn for the most special of occasions!
- More stuff as we think of it!
You will not want to miss out on this incredible LRC gift box. This is a special, once-in-a-lifetime offering. Trust us, we ain’t ever making this box again!
| Jason: My brother, Greg, and I always tried to do this on the LRC. We actually succeeded several times... for at least a couple of minutes, anyway! | |
No joke, the LRC with the banking system operating normally was the smoothest ride I have ever experienced on rails.
Bobby: We're anticipating that the LRC sets will be a VERY popular item. Order them before JUNE 15TH, 2026. You can do so from your local hobby shop or directly through us.
But wait, there's more...
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NEW SCHEMES AND ROADNUMBERS: LRC Locomotive
The LRC Locomotive was an extremely powerful locomotive in a small package. Despite only being 12 feet tall and 63 feet long, it packed a 3750 HP Alco 251F prime move plus two 250 KW Stamford alternators to provide Head End Power. It was built for 125 MPH operation, though it was restricted to 100 MPH in service. Nevertheless, the LRC pulled the Metropolis express between Montreal, Dorval and Toronto throughout the 1990s. At 3 hours 59 minutes for the 335-mile run, this remains the fastest scheduled passenger service in Canadian railway history.
Just think about this: after Canada spends tens of billions of dollars on high speed rail, the travel time of the Metropolis won’t be improved by all that much. It makes you realize how amazing the LRC truly was.
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It's all about the details. See-through grilles, diaphragms and much more!
Models shown are from a previous release.
| HOLD ON! You may wonder, "but did the LRC Locomotives operate other non-LRC cars?" Yes, yes they did! Here's some proof of the locomotives on various trains with no LRC cars in sight! | |
VIA 6903 hauls six Tempo Cars through Aldershot. You can feel the power and speed of this train. All models made by Rapido!
Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
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VIA 6904 leads F40PH-2D 6446 and a conventional consist in London, Ontario. The size difference is evident between the two locomotives! All models made by Rapido!
Photo by C. Martin, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
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LRC 6930 leads an FPA-4 through Burlington in 1986.
All models made by Rapido!
Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
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Whoa! They also lead Amtrak consists? Yes they did! VIA 6926 leads Amtrak 217 on the International. All power made by Rapido! (And the Tempo car on the end!)
Photo by W. D. Miller, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
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Our new run of the LRC locomotive features some significant improvements:
- Tooling improvements to ensure the body shell is dead straight
- MoPower capacitor system for reliable operation even on dirty track
- New LokSound V5 sound decoder with remastered sounds recorded from LRC 6921
- New high quality speakers with strong bass
- Improved reliable metal couplers
- Improved wheel face profile
In addition, the model features:
- Measured from preserved LRC 6921 and original blueprints
- Etched-metal grilles with radiator fan detail
- Full cab interior
- Full lighting package: headlights, ditch lights, marker lights, backup light, track lights and strobe light
- Separate metal handrails, grab irons and lift rings
- Optional bug deflector
- Minimum radius: 18”
And now for the schemes! We've got two cool demo schemes that we've never done before!
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Order one, order all of the LRC Locos! Make sure you don't miss out on these since we don't anticipate running them again for a loooong time!
Order those LRCs from your favourite hobby shop or directly through us. Don't forget the order deadline is on JUNE 15TH, 2026.
Wait a second, it looks like there's something else...
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NEW SCHEMES AND ROADNUMBERS: LRC Cars
Despite the LRC Coaches being the backbone of VIA’s Corridor fleet, it has been over five years since we last produced them in HO scale! It’s time to correct that egregious oversight with this fabulous new production run.
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The previous run of LRC cars sit on our bridge module.
Below we see what's going on inside of the car. Digging the Walkman...
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Bombardier produced ten LRC-1 cars which went to Amtrak in 1980, followed by 50 LRC-2 cars delivered to VIA in 1981 and 1982. 50 more LRC-3 cars were delivered to VIA in 1984 and 1985. The LRC-1 cars were returned to VIA in the 1980s, refurbished and repainted in VIA colours for use almost exclusively on the International between Toronto and Chicago.
The remaining VIA cars have been used on all trains in the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor. VIA’s LRC cars were hauled regularly by all of VIA’s HEP-equipped locomotives: LRC, F40PH-2D, and P42DC. Amtrak’s LRCs were pulled by LRC, F40PH, E60s and AEM-7 locomotives.
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An E60CH leads five LRC cars through Darien, Connecticut in New Haven territory. 969 is only four years older than those LRC cars at the time of this photo!
Unknown photographer, Rapido collection.
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Our LRC Coach Model, based on the LRC-2 and LRC-3 design, includes all the necessary LRC details. Depending on which paint scheme you order, you will get the correct seating configuration of either 2+2, 50/50, or 2+1. The axles have ball bearings to ensure they roll extremely well despite being of an inside-bearing design, and the lighting board contains capacitors to avoid flickering lights over unpowered frogs or dirty track. HEP cables, super-fine stirrup steps and etched-metal end gates or bars spice up the car ends.
All of the major LRC paint scheme variations are included in this run. For the first time, we’re doing the current “The future is on board” paint scheme in HO scale.
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The 2010s rebuild scheme vs the Renaissance scheme, below.
You might have model passenger cars from our competitors. Please compare the one-piece, unpainted blob in our competitors' cars with the individual, fully decorated seats in our cars. Yes, we believe that this stuff is important and we know that most of you do, too.
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Each LRC Car features:
- Correct car profile based on original blueprints
- Business Class car including modern 2+1 seating
- Coaches feature correct colour scheme including brown (1981-1992), green (1992-2016), “greige” (2012+) and charcoal (2016+)
- Track-powered “Easy-Peasy” interior lighting and working marker lights operated by magnetic wand (included)
- Capacitor installed for flicker-free lighting over dirty track
- Super-detailed, free-rolling trucks and wheelsets
- Detailed diaphragms with etched-metal end gates
- Separate grab irons installed at the factory
- Improved metal couplers installed at the correct height
- Minimum radius: 18” (22” or larger recommended)
Check out the schemes for the LRC cars. First up are the VIA 1 and Business Class Cars.
| Celebrate the success of these long-lived passenger cars by ordering your LRC fleet today! Just in case you forgot, the order deadline is set for JUNE 15TH, 2026. You can do so from your favourite hobby shop or directly through us. | | That's cool, but what about N Scale? Glad you asked! Scroll down. | | |
NEW! N Scale LRC Locomotive and Sets
Hey N scalers, we didn't forget you! With this amazing Farewell to the LRC announcement, we're proud to announce N Scale LRC Locomotives and Sets!
The LRC locomotive was built for speed — 125 MPH operations even though it was restricted to 100MPH. Despite that, it ran the Metropolis express between Montreal, Dorval and Toronto throughout the 1990s. At 3 hours 59 minutes for the 335-mile run, this remains the fastest scheduled passenger service in Canadian railway history.
Click here or the photo above to watch the launch video!
HOLD ON, THIS IS A CONDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
JUNE 15TH, 2026 is the order deadline which means you have just under three months to crank in those orders and make this a reality. Remember, we will only advance this project into the tooling phase if we meet the required amount of orders. We know you can do this!
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VIA 6904 awaits its next train in Montréal. It had the black VIA logo on the nose for only a few months. It was soon replaced with a white logo.
Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
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VIA 6915 makes a station stop at Kingston on a beautiful day.
Unknown photographer, courtesy of the Kaluza-Mueller collection.
| Your N layout NEEDS these LRC Locomotives and Sets to transport those travellers to and from Montréal and Toronto. "But I only run freight, why do I need these?" Of course you need these! Interrupt those operations with intercity trains weaving in and out of those long, slow freights or simply run your train at 245 scale MPH around the club layout to the dismay of everyone else. | These models are from a previous release but they sure do look good! | |
The N Scale LRC Locomotive and Sets feature:
LRC Locomotive
- Working headlights, ditch lights, number boards
- Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
- Incredible underbody detail including separate piping
- Different rooftop details for different paint schemes
- Accurate LRC Locomotive sounds on sound-equipped models
- Will operate smoothly on DC and DCC layouts
- Equipped with MoPower capacitor, for uninterrupted DCC operation
- Suggested minimum radius: 11”
LRC Passenger Cars (Sets)
- Working marker lights
- Etched-metal stirrups
- Full interior detail with accurate colours and tinted windows
- Track-powered interior lighting compatible with DC and DCC
- Suggested minimum radius: 14”
Now, for the schemes and variations of these neat LRC models.
| Next up are the single locomotives. | We have some availability on our recent run of LRC coaches in case you want to order more. We are also adding Amtrak single coaches to this run. | |
OK N scalers, time to make this a reality! The conditional order deadline is June 15th, which plenty of time to roll in those orders. Remember, the LRC Locos will only advance if we meet the numbers — let's do this!
You can order these from your favourite hobby shop or directly through us.
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NEW MODEL AND SCHEMES!
HO Scale CEM and Standard Bilevel Commuter Cars
Our HO Scale Bilevel Commuter Cars are back with the much requested CEM (Crash Energy Management) design cars and popular new schemes for our standard Bilevels too! Let's start off with the new video describing these cars. Click here or the photo box above to watch.
When you're back, we have decorated 3D CAD renders. These are preliminary as the design is still a work in progress.
HOLD ON! We've set the order deadline for August 17th, 2026. Plenty of time to order them. These are going into tooling next month and we should have working samples well before the order deadline.
| GO Transit/Metrolinx and Seattle Sounder variations. | Note the Sounder cars have the strobe lights while the GO Transit/Metrolinx versions do not. | |
In the mid 2010s, the Bilevel Cars underwent their most significant redesign since their introduction 40 years earlier. The new CEM (Crash Energy Management) car design features a refined roof profile and other alterations to the rest of the body shell and window arrangement.
The biggest change is the new stylized cab car. Designed to keep crews safer in the event of an incident and provide exceptional visibility, these new cab cars are a significant departure in style to the original designs. They feature a sleeker, more profiled front with a large picture window. Currently four commuter agencies operate these cabs and coaches: Altamont Commuter Express (Stockton/San Jose), Coaster (San Diego), GO Transit/Metrolinx and Sounder of Seattle.
| The cab cars have the most obvious spotting features. Just in case you still weren't sure, on the left are the new CEM Cabs while the standard version is on the right. | Look at those roof angle differences. The new CEM cars have the full angle to the ends of the car while the standard cars have the area that gently flattens out as well as the angled ends. | |
Ay yo, what makes these HO Scale CEM and Standard Bilevel Commuter Cars stand out from all of the others?
These cars roll freely...FREELY(!) on LEVEL GROUND! They also have: full underbody and (decorated) interior details, correct smooth or riveted sides, different size windows according to car series, proper single or dual cab front windows, and — most importantly — they come equipped with FULL LIGHTING FEATURES!
This isn't some run of the mill, one-size-fits-all bilevel passenger car with every scheme slapped on the sides. This is the ultimate bilevel commuter car.
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The GO Transit cars rolling along on Sheldon Frankel's layout.
Of course the step platforms are see-through! Etched-metal for the win.
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The interiors are also painted right down to the seat colors!
Below, the TRE cars look great in the red, white and blue Texas State Flag scheme.
| Have you seen our Bilevel Commuter Car masterclass? It's packed with info, car history and much more. Click here or the photo below to immerse yourself in the world of bilevel rail cars. | |
We can't forget two of my favorite schemes: Tri-Rail and SunRail! The most colorful schemes on a Bilevel Car out there! Palm trees and bright colors just go well with commuter cars. Now if only these two roads used standard F40s...
Make sure to bulk up on these two schemes as I made sure to DEMAND we did them on this run! (And my order for every roadnumber apparently does not count against total sales, I've been told.)
| Do you like palm trees on commuter cars? I sure do! Photo courtesy of Dylan Scott. | | |
Check out the HO Scale CEM and Standard Bilevel Commuter Cars feature:
- NEW CEM-style coaches and cab cars — first time in HO scale!
- Operating ditch lights
- Over 10 different body style variations, all accurate to the prototype
- Free-rolling, highly detailed inside-bearing trucks with roller-bearing axles and metal wheelsets
- Full underbody and unrivaled interior detail
- Accurate painting and lettering, both inside and out
- Prototypically accurate tinted windows
- Metal side grab irons
- Constant interior lighting in DC and DCC
- Controllable cab car lighting in both DC and DCC
- Cab cars pre-wired with a speaker and a 21-pin socket for full DCC/Sound functionality
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
Now for the schemes! Here are the CEM cab cars and coaches:
| | And here are the standard bilevel cab cars and coaches! Note this is the first time we are doing the rebuilt dual-window cab on the original GO paint scheme. | | |
OK sports fans, get ready to order the new CEM and Standard Bilevel commuter cars. Remember, the order deadline is set for August 17th, 2026.
You can order these from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us.
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HO Scale Virginian & Ohio FA-1 and FB-1 Locomotives
Officially in partnership with Home Shops, we have added on to our current run of FA-1 and FB-1s, models from Allen McClelland’s freelance railroad Virginian & Ohio. These FA‑1 and FB‑1 locomotives capture the railroad's most iconic period: the 1950s on the Afton Division. The V&O was streamlined on motive power with their first‑generation diesels. Their “beyond the basement” philosophy reshaped the entire hobby and led to a new revolution of freelance railroad operations!
| The original FAs on Allen McClelland's layout. Neat! | The FAs were delivered new in the classic deep‑blue scheme with the bow‑tie herald. These Alcos became the signature power on the V&O’s early diesel roster and became the backbone of operations — hauling coal, moving bridge‑line manifests and establishing the look and feel that made the railroad legendary. | |
For modelers who appreciate the roots of proto‑freelancing or simply want beautifully executed first‑generation Alco power, these FA‑1 and FB‑1 locomotives are the perfect answer!
These neat Alcos will ship with our current run of FAs in a few months' time. Order yours today, directly from us.
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LIMITED QUANTITIES! HO Scale Railroad of Lies NSC Ballast Hopper
ROLX fans unite! We have another addition to the Railroad of Lies family: the HO Scale NSC Ballast Hopper. Wearing a striking orange scheme with patched-out graphics, this MOW hopper is ready transport ballast to the next work zone to drop its load of ballast on your layout.
WAIT! There's one catch: these hoppers are in-stock now! That means if you want one, two or all three road numbers you need to order them ASAP as we don't expect they'll be around for long.
| | Order your ROLX Ballast Hopper NOW! You can do so from your local hobby shop or directly through us... but don't wait! They'll be gone in a flash. | | |
We're Hiring - Warranty Repair Technician
We are still looking for a full-time warranty technician to work here at our Markham office fixing model trains and helping customers. Our warranty return rate is between 1% and 2%, but even that represents hundreds of models a year and we're always busy. Required skills include:
- Must be good at taking apart, repairing and putting together model trains. When you’ve finishing putting the model train back together, it should look like a model train and not a model-train-shaped omelette.
- Must have an understanding of model railroad electronics and be skilled with a soldering iron. Knowledge and understanding of DCC is a huge asset. Massive. Even better if it's for ESU decoders and LokProgrammer.
- Must be a good communicator, written and oral, and be able to reply to customer emails daily. English, French, Spanish and Klingon are all useful. qab qechvetlh.
- Must be well organized and able to follow instructions precisely
- Must be willing to tackle other tasks as required: warehousy type box moving, preparing and packing show samples, parts sorting, processing 100s of replacement parts to send out to customers when we got things wrong (very rarely of course!) and polishing our “Super Continental” sign from Vancouver Station
- Must be comfortable with MS Office and be able to learn other software on a computing device. Experience with Atari 2600, Commodore 64 or Colecovision will impress us greatly, but won't help your application.
- Must be able to politely interrupt a customer to get off the phone when the customer wants to spend two hours talking about their railfanning adventures in 1958.
- Must have the patience of Job (this has nothing to do with our customers and everything to do with working for Jason).
- Must be able to work Monday through Friday at our Markham, Ontario office. Markham is not a neighborhood in Ontario, California. Markham is in the far north of the planet where everyone drinks maple syrup and wears earmuffs all year 'round.
By law, we must give preference to applications from hoseheads. We also give preference to people who know how to spell, know the difference between "there" and "their", and don't ever say "Me and him went to the store." Knowledge of appropriate apostrophe usage is also a must. Considering that most Rapido employees fail four of those last five points, we’re actually not so picky.
We look forward to hearing from you! qapla’!
If interested please send your resume and cover letter to trains@rapidotrains.com.
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Otter Valley Exclusive: Canadian National GP40 Locomotive
Otter Valley Railroad has a special run of HO scale Canadian National GP40 locomotives! They'll be offering three roadnumbers in the stripes scheme: 9312, 9313 and 9316.
Don't miss out on these, as these are limited as they're already on the way here! Place your orders now through our friends at Otter Valley Railroad.
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The Bay Area Rapido Tour of 2026!
In April, Jason and Jordan will be taking a grand tour of the Bay Area! Take a look below at their plans for the West Coast. There will be plenty of chances to catch Jason and Jordan in the wild.
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Rapido Meet-and-Greet: Golden State Model Railroad Museum
Sunday, April 12th from 4PM to 6PM
We are starting off the tour at Jordan's favorite museum on the West Coast, the Golden State Model Railroad Museum! Ask about Jason's favorite Doctor and Jordan's breakdown of Spock's emotional range. You'll also get to check out some of our latest production samples!
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Rapido Meet-and-Greet: South Bay Railroad Historical Society
Santa Clara, Monday, April 13th from 7PM to 9PM
Come on down to the South Bay Historical Society on April 13th for another exciting day of Jason and Jordan! While you're there, check out all of the neat exhibits that the museum has to offer!
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Rapido Meet-and-Greet: The Train Shop
Santa Clara, Tuesday, April 14th from 3PM to 5PM
Need to go shopping? So do we! In case you didn't get enough of Jason and Jordan the day before, you can still ask them your most pressing questions (or ask them to sign your Rapido gear!) at The Train Shop in Santa Clara. I am sure Jordan will be picking up a few things for his personal collection.
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Rapido Meet-and-Greet: Carquinez Model Railroad Society
Wednesday, April 15th starting at 6PM
Jason and Jordan will end their tour at the gorgeous layout of the Carquinez Model Railroad Society. Come see this extensive model railroad club in action!
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Rocky Mountain Train Show — April 11th and 12th
Hey Colorado are you ready for a train show? Yes, it's time for the Rocky Mountain Train Show! Come join us at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado, on April 11th and 12th to see our booth. We'll have samples on display and can answer your questions! Visit us in Expo Hall N, D7/C8/D9. We hope to see you there!
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Supertrain Calgary — April 25th and 26th
We'll be attending Canada's largest train show in Calgary, Alberta, on April 25th and the 26th. We're excited to attend this year's Supertrain. Saddle up and ride on over to the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary, booth CSt 3, to check out our display.
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The Great British Train Show — April 25th and 26th
We'll also be sponsoring and attending The Great British Train Show on April 25th and 26th. As usual, the show will be held at the Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre. Check out the Rapido UK models we have for display, for sale and meet at least two British rail enthusiasts (Mark and Leslie). Natasha is just there for the Doctor Who enthusiasts. You might be able to spot some Shrons on the Sunday as well!
Feel like you've travelled across the pond at the 2026 GBTS!
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Rapido Live! Recorded on March 25th
In case you missed the Rapido Live! From March 25th, we have you covered! Watch as Jason and Jordan discuss the new project launches and important order deadlines.
Click here or the photo above to watch.
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HO Scale R32 "Brightliner" NYCTA Subway Cars
In mid-March, Jason, Jordan, Jeremy and I headed to lower Brooklyn to record sounds and video the HO Scale R32 "Brightliner" NYCTA Subway Cars. While the day called for severe storms and heavy downpours, it was anything but that! In fact, the four of us enjoyed a nice day riding the cars up and down the D Line, courtesy of the MTA. By the, we want to sincerely thank the MTA for putting up with us on that day! We promise Jason won't yell on the intercom... again.
Click here to watch a short YouTube video of Jason in the closed-off 9th Ave Station. Oh, and don't forget to keep ordering those cars. Don't "fuhgeddaboudit"!
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HO Scale Greenbrier 7780 cu.ft. Cryo-Trans Reefer
Watch this quick unboxing video with Nat unboxing the Greenbrier 7780 cu.ft. Cryo-Trans Reefer! She also handles the models much more carefully than Jordan. (Oops, did we say that?)
Click here or the photo above to watch.
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HO Scale Trenton Works 6348 Boxcar
Jeremy's back with a quick unboxing video of the HO Scale Trenton Works 6348 Boxcar. Oh, yeah, we promise there won't be any boxcars put into the crusher... again!
Click here or the photo above to watch.
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Tooling, Shipping and Arrival Updates
LOTS of new items are here and shipping!
Please note, all of our hobby shop shipments are up to date. If you haven't received your new product orders, please speak with your dealer. All dealers in good standing have received their shipments.
Don't see the model you're looking for, above?
Click here to visit our full delivery schedule to find out where it might be.
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AAR Boxcars look great! Above we see the Southern versions.
Below, we have the colorful Lancaster & Chester cars.
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Lackawanna "Phoebe Snow" cars!
The unmistakable New York Central Jade Green cars stand out in the tray.
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This concludes the March Madness newsletter. Did your team survive the opening round? Luckily Rapido does not field a b-ball team. That could be a lowlight reel of calamity.
OK Rapido fans.... See you next time!
Bobby
Bobby Allard
NY Mets Fan, sadly.
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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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