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Rapido Newsletter Vol. 232
©2026 Rapido Trains Inc.
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Dear Rapido Customer,
Summer is starting to heat up and we have some sizzling models to discuss; Roger Williams, boxcars, intermodal and more. Grab that icy drink and get ready to be amazed during this summer of Rapido!
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In this 232nd issue...
- Happy Dominion Day and Independence Day!
- Rapido's Southwest Chief Adventure
- Back in the Spotlight Models
- New Announcements
- Home Shops
- New Exclusive Model
- Spotlight
- New Videos
- Upcoming Shows and Events
- 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.
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Happy Dominion Day and Independence Day!
To all of our American readers, we wish you a happy Fourth of July!
Canadian people, we wish you a happy Dominion Day! Yes, we know it's been Canada Day for 44 years. But we don't care! We're old!
Whether you enjoy a nice cook-out, hanging in the pool or just plain relaxing, we hope that the holiday is a safe one for your family, from our family at Rapido, to yours. I will be spending it power washing random things. Natasha is planning to burn stuff. Jason's trying to learn how to be a rock star. He has an amp and everything. Jeremy's eating toast. Jordan's working. Bwa ha!
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Join Us on Rapido's Southwest Chief Adventure
With Jason, Jordan and Jeff (the Midwest part)!
Our Southwest Chief Adventure has already begun. Jordan has been visiting hobby shops and clubs to discuss ongoing and future projects, as well as answer any questions you may have. You can even celebrate Canada Day with Jordan because, as I said, he's working! Jason is joining him from the 6th. Don't miss out on the following events:
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Reed's Hobby Shop / Meet and Greet — July 1st, 2026
Head on down to Reed's Hobby Shop on Wednesday, July 1st, 2026. Look for our samples on display while you do some shopping. Jordan and Vic will happily answer any questions you have — especially the ones about the Espee.
Where: 8039 La Mesa Blvd - La Mesa, CA
When: July 1st, 6PM to 8PM PDT
What to do: Hot yoga in the parking lot... I mean hang out at the hobby shop.
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Arnie's Model Trains / Meet and Greet — July 2nd, 2026
Everyone's invited to Arnie's Model Trains on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026. We'll have our samples on display and of course, you can go shopping, too! Jordan and Vic will happily answer any questions you have.
Where: 6452 Industry Way, Unit A - Westminster, CA
When: July 2nd, 2PM to 6PM PDT
What to look for: Our sample models and Jordan.
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The Train Shack / Meet and Greet — July 6th, 2026
Surf's up! Skim your way over to The Train Shack on Monday, July 6th, 2026. We'll be hanging out at this neat store in the evening, ready to answer any surfing question you have. No, seriously, we have no idea how to surf so please don't ask Jason, Jordan or Vic this!
Where: 1030 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA
When: July 6th, 3PM to 6PM PDT
What to ask: Where can I get that Dole-Whip drink you have?
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Travel Days on the Southwest Chief — July 7th-9th, 2026
On July 7th, Jason and Jordan will board the Southwest Chief for a fast run to Chicago! If you will be in on board, come hang out! If you won't be joining them for the ride, please come on out to extended station stops, wave to them or watch them whizz by on railcams as they take a cross country journey.
Train: Amtrak #4, the Southwest Chief
Where: The Southwest Chief route
What to do: Meet them at extended station stops or wave as they pass by!
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Des Plaines Hobbies / Meet and Greet — July 9th, 2026
Hey Chicagoland! We'll be at Des Plaines Hobbies on Thursday, July 9th, 2026. After our long trip on Amtrak, we'll be present at this great hobby shop with samples, smiles and answers to your questions. Join Jason, Jordan and Jeff — J3 for this event.
Where: 1524 Lee St, Des Plaines, IL
When: July 9th, 6PM to 8PM CDT
What to ask: Don't ask about the Big Boy.
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BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT: HO Scale Roger Williams
Hey New Haven fans, the Roger Williams needs some attention! If you missed the video at the top, click here to watch it. You can see we've got some new decorated 3D CAD renders for you to look at, below!
Reminder: The conditional order deadline is now set for September 15th, 2026.
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Let's run though a bit of history about the Roger Williams for you passenger train fanatics.
In 1957, the New Haven ordered the Roger Williams, a complete six-car train set that consisted of Budd RDC cars with modifications for high-speed service into New York City. Named after the founder of Rhode Island, these RDCs featured end cars with a streamlined cab. It also featured third rail electrical pickup shoes and small traction motors, allowing them to run into Grand Central Terminal under electric power.
The non-cab (intermediate) RDCs also featured motors and that signature rooftop blister but did not have any provisions to control the train. The interior and exterior styling was the work of noted architect and industrial designer Marcel Breuer. Nicknamed the “Hot Rod” by crews, the Roger Williams was originally geared for 110MPH and had 50HP more than a standard RDC, but was 7 inches lower.
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The Roger Williams first operated as a complete train set but was split up after about a year in Boston-to-New York City service and put into the regular RDC pool. This resulted in some wild consists! Re-geared for 84MPH with the third rail gear removed, it was common to see the cab cars running with a single RDC on shorter trains while the intermediate cars were mated with regular RDC-1s, -2s and -3s (some of which you can still order through us)… and maybe even RDC-4s (the NH had them all).
The cab cars and intermediate cars continued their journey into the Penn Central era after the New Haven merger. The cab cars got an uninspiring DGLE (“PC Black”) nose dip with PC worms and no side logos while the intermediate cars lost their orange doors and NH logos.
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The Roger Williams makes a stop at Darien, Connecticut.
Photo by Bob Grambling, courtesy of the NHRHTA.
| In the Amtrak era, the cab cars wore multiple schemes including PC patch, Phase I and III! And the intermediate car got red vestibule doors. They continued to operate until the mid-1980s before being retired. Amazingly, the two cab cars plus the surviving intermediate car have been restored to operating condition at the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum in Lenox, Massachusetts! | |
The Roger Williams in New Haven wearing Amtrak Phase II colors.
Photo by John Bartley, courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection.
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The Roger Williams rests at New Haven, Connecticut.
Photo by T.J. McNamara, courtesy of the NHRHTA.
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The HO Scale Roger Williams features:
- First time fully assembled in plastic
- Accurately designed from original blueprints
- Cab units features Rapido’s smooth, proven in-floor RDC drive system
- Intermediate cars are unpowered, but fully lit
- An insane level of underbody detail
- Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
- Full interior detail
- DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
- MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC power
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
Now for the schemes.
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Let's get the Roger Williams party started! You have until September 15th, 2026, which is the conditional order deadline, to reserve as many sets, power cars and coaches as possible. As long as we have enough orders to go ahead on September 15th, these will enter tooling.
Help us make the Roger Williams a reality! Order them now through your favorite dealer or directly from us.
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BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
HO Scale Southern Pacific PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcar
The SP PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcars are back in the spotlight this month with even more to show off. We're excited to have SIX decorated samples to show you in this new video. Remember - this is not an old car. It may be short, but it is still in service today!
Click here to watch tor the photo above to watch.
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Here's a neat side-by-side view with our samples and the real thing!
The prototype photo is courtesy of Craig Walker.
| In the early 1970s, the Southern Pacific needed a new fleet of heavy-duty boxcars for copper loading service in Arizona and turned to the PC&F. Their solution was this unique fleet of 40’ 6" 100-ton boxcars, a rare length not commonly built since the 1950s! Three hundred B-100-32 class cars arrived in 1972. The B-100-34 class was be delivered between 1973 and 1974, totaling 250 cars. These cars feature a modern Hydra-Cushion underframe, 100-ton roller bearing trucks, 10' doors and DF-2 loaders. These were often seen all across the country in a wide variety of other services for the SP. | The SP cars look dazzling in the sunlight. | The early 1990s saw the SP undertake a fleet renewal of their equipment. Many of the PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcars were selected for this rehab program. They exited the shops wearing an attractive blue paint job with "Golden West Service" logos. The cars also were re-marked for the Galveston Railway (GVSR), a subsidiary of SP. Fifty more were leased to the CP, under their CPAA marks. Once the lease ran out, these 50 returned to the SP. | The CP cars above and the GVSR ones, below. | After the Union Pacific merger in 1996, the B-100s were gradually sold off to secondary owners. Many went to the Northwestern Oklahoma Railroad (NOKL). In 2010 they were re-sold again to the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER). Defying the odds and multiple owners, the AZER still operates these cars today! | |
The patched cars! Above, we see the NOKL versions with the Superior doors.
Below, we have the Arizona Eastern cars which still operate today!
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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”
Here are the schemes.
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Are you a modern modeler? If you model copper anode services or just the steel industry itself, you need a bunch of these 40' boxcars. They have been seen all the way from the Southwest to the Midwest and even the East Coast.
Order those B-100-32 and B-100-34 boxcars in bulk! One, two or forty cars. You know you need them. The new order deadline is August 17th, 2026, so order soon and order a lot! We go into production immediately after the order deadline.
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NEW MODEL! HO Scale Great Northern 40' Double-Sheathed Boxcar
Bam! We're back with a new twist on the 40' boxcar! Introducing the HO Scale Great Northern 40' Double-Sheathed Boxcar. Designed with the assistance of the Great Northern Railway Historical Society, this unique wooden boxcar aims to fill the long-awaited gap of 40' boxcars.
Click here or the photo above to watch the launch video.
| These are the 3D CAD renders and they look great! | The 40’ double-sheathed boxcar was Great Northern’s most popular car on their roster during the post-war period. From 1937 through 1942, over 8,000 boxcars were produced by various manufacturers. In 1956, there were more of the 1937-1942 double-sheathed boxcars on the GN roster than ALL of the various 40’ steel boxcars put together! | Check out the underbody details. | While based on the 1937 AAR 40’ boxcar design, Great Northern’s cars had distinctive sides, ends, and underframes, all accurately captured in Rapido’s new model. Built in several batches by ACF and Pullman-Standard, they were equipped with handbrake gear from multiple suppliers. The GN’s 40’ double-sheathed boxcars lasted long enough to carry multiple paint schemes, including the later vermillion red scheme. Many remained with their original sheathing well into the 1970s. | |
The HO Scale Great Northern Double-Sheathed Boxcars feature:
- Original car drawings used for design
- Highly detailed underframe with brake piping and more
- Detailed cut overs and side ladders
- Separate roofwalk and grab irons
- Textured wood-paneled body
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- 50-ton AAR trucks with profiled metal wheels
- Minimum suggested radius: 18”
Now for the schemes.
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Jason: Where's CN?
Bobby: There is no CN. This is a Great Northern car.
Jason: My wallet's safe.
Bobby: You know we hate when people say that, right? These cars ran on CN! CN modelers need them!
Jason: In 1980?
Bobby: No.
Jason: My wallet's safe.
Bobby: Good grief.
Getting back to these amazing cars that a lot of people (not Jason) want for their layouts, we expect these cars to be a popular item! We are so confident that tooling has already begun!
Order them now through your favorite dealer or directly from us.
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EXCLUSIVE MODEL! GNRHS 40' Double-Sheathed Boxcars
The Great Northern Railroad Historical Society is offering two unique paint schemes with several road numbers on this neat 40' Double-Sheathed Boxcar. The art above shows the lettering, door tackboard and truck color differences. Each is set for 1956 and beyond.
Click here to order them direct from the GNRHS!
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NEW MODEL! HO Scale Trenton Works 5277 cu.ft. Boxcar
Pulp fiction? No, this car actually existed and carried pulp! The Trenton Works 5277 cu.ft. Boxcar is an important railcar in the paper industry that forms a vital link between the mill and production facility.
Click here or the photo above to watch the launch video.
| The early sample makes these cars look great! Note the air vents on the model above. | The Trenton Works 5277 cu.ft. Boxcar addressed a need in the paper products industry. These cars went to work for Canadian National, hauling all sorts of paper commodities across Canada and parts of the United States. In the latter part of the 1990s, the cars were repurposed for pulp service, carrying bulk quantities of this product to and from processing plants. The wet pulp caused rotting issues inside the cars from the lack of ventilation. To rectify this, eight rectangular vents were strategically placed along the top and bottom of the sides. Most of the fleet had these vents by the early-2000s. | |
The 5277 boxcars feature a Plate C, 100-ton design with vertical exterior posts. Another spotting feature of these cars are the longer, squared-off end ribs. There are six of these ribs on both ends. It gives these cars a more rugged look! The door width is slightly wider than other 5277 boxcars, as well. This was done to accommodate loading of the various paper products these cars carry. It also helps with pulp loading as the bulk product can be quite large.
A neat fact about the 5277s is they hold the title for largest quantity (500) of 100-ton, Plate C cars built after 1980. This gives you 500 reasons to acquire many of these important boxcars.
| CN 414087 rolls past on a manifest. Photo courtesy of Dan Garcia. | |
The HO Scale Trenton Works 5277 Boxcars feature:
- Original car drawings used along with field measurements
- Optional vents for pulp-carrying cars
- Metal grab irons and cut lever
- Detailed underbody brake piping
- Separate door posts and door latches
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- 70-ton Barber S-2 trucks with profiled metal wheels
- Minimum suggested radius: 18”
Now for fifty shades of brown (and one blue one).
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Hey Jason! These are CN cars! You need them!
Jason: Did they run in 1980?
Bobby: Well, no, but –
Jason: My wallet's safe.
Bobby: I give up.
Fill out your roster with the Trenton Works 5277 Boxcar today! Order them now through your favourite dealer or directly from us.
The order deadline is October 15th, 2026. These are too cool.
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NEW SCHEMES! HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcars With Trailers
The HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcars are back! In this run we have some great schemes with new roadnumbers plus some cool new options.
Learn more by watching the launch video. Click here or the photo above to watch.
| | These flatcars were a huge hit with all of their details. We expect they'll be popular again. | | In the 1960s, trailer on flatcar (TOFC) operations were the newest railroad innovation. Traffic had grown substantially and Canadian National and Canadian Pacific saw a need to purchase TOFC-style flatcars that could handle both dual 26-foot and larger trailers. These flatcars were not limited to the Northlands, as they were often seen all throughout the United States. They were commonly seen in the Northeast, but often seen as far west as California! While they were often seen in intermodal consists, they were also commonly mixed into manifest freights. | The open grating looks great on these cars. | Canadian National placed an order for 283 cars with Vancouver Iron and Engineering Works (VIEW). Delivery of these cars started in 1966, and operated well into the late 1980s. In 1976, a major overhaul saw the flatcars receive a single hitch configuration which resulted in the cars being renumbered into the 687000 to 687184 series. | The wide variety of colours look superb on the CP cars and trailers. | Canadian Pacific ordered 305 cars from Marine Industries Limited (MIL) in 1972. These cars wore road numbers 505625 to 505930. Over their lifespan they saw several rebuilding programs, as well as the removal of the second hitch and eventually container pedestals added for the option to haul containers. These flatcars operated into the late-1990s all throughout CP’s Canadian and American service lanes. | | These cars look great closeup! | | |
The HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcars feature:
- Drawn from original blueprints
- Two totally unique designs for CN and CP
- Artworks sourced from original design drawings
- Heavy die-cast centre sill
- Photo-etched deck surface
- Two styles of hitches; upright and collapsed
- Metal grab irons
- Barber S2 roller bearing trucks with metal wheels
- Suggested minimum radius: 18”
Now for the schemes. First up we have the flatcars without trailers. Notice this time around we also have unlettered schemes!
| | Here are the flatcars with trailers. Yes, they come with trailers! | |
Jason?
Jason: Need. All. Wallet not safe. Oh dear.
Bobby: Finally.
The order deadline for these is September 15th, 2026. Please get your orders in now! The last time we did this we sold out instantly. Don't miss out again.
Move that truckload freight with the piggyback flatcars and trailers. Order them now through your favourite dealer or directly from us.
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NEW SCHEMES! HO Scale Canadian Trailers: 26' Can-Car Dry Van, 40' Fruehauf Fluted Side Volume Vans and 45' Trailmobile Trailers
The HO Scale Canadian Trailers make a triumphant return. They bring some familiar schemes with new numbers as well as new trucking and railroad companies. We're excited about these trailers, to say the least.
Learn more by watching the launch video. Click here or the photo above to watch.
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These look great on the Canadian Flatcars.
Those front stabilizing bars (below) help balance these 26' trailers from falling forward.
| The 26’ Can-Car Dry Van trailers were widely used by Canadian National and Canadian Pacific for package delivery services. In addition to CN and CP, the trailers were also utilized by trucking services and retail store owners due to their versatility and side door options. These trailers have the iconic ribbed sides with catchy graphics and bright colours. | Silver looks great on these trailers. | The 45’ Trailmobile trailers arrived in Canada in the mid-1970s, almost a full decade before they launched in the United States. These venerable trailers also had the option for side doors, for easier access. Much like the 26’ trailers, CN and CP both had good quantities as well as small and large trucking services. Many wore a variety of colourful schemes, so crank up that memory machine and grab a few of these neat trailers today! | Note the prototypical red wheels. | |
The HO Scale Canadian Trailers feature:
- Three varieties: 26' Can-Car Dry Vans, 40' Fruehauf Fluted Side Volume Vans and 45' Trailmobile Trailers
- Landing gear has two separate pieces to create in-motion or parked positions
- Separately-applied mudflaps
- Highly detailed wheel and axle area
- 26’ trailers have two styles of front stabilizing bars to create in-motion or parked positions
- Realistic rubber tires
- Three individual numbers per scheme
Now for the schemes. First up are the 28' trailers.
| Now we have the 40' trailers. Dig that CF logo. | Finally, we have the 45' trailers. | |
You'll need lots of trailers to go with those flatcars. Order them now through your favourite dealer or directly from us.
Jason: You know that the last time we did these trailers, Gomez "lost" my order and I got squat. I need all of these!!! I will even take the Expo86 and I will operate 1986 that day. My wallet will be obliterated.
Bobby: So what you're saying is, we should just make models that you fit your layout?
Jason: I can't afford that. Let's make more Metra SD70MACs...
Bobby: No comment.
Please order your trailers by September 15th, 2026! Be there or be square.
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NEW SCHEMES! HO Scale Gunderson 53' Husky Stack Well Car With 53' Containers
We've got more HO Scale Gunderson 53' Husky Stack Well Cars coming your way! In this run we have new roadnumbers and well cars with two containers, including a new type of 53' container! We'll get to that a bit later.
Click here or the photo above to watch the launch video.
| These cars are from the previous run. The Ferromex cars were super popular. | The Gunderson 53’ Husky Stack is an all-purpose single-unit well car designed to carry up to two 53’ (or smaller length) containers. Over 3,500 cars have been built for TTX Company (DTTX), Canadian Pacific (CP), Ferromex (FXE) and the Arkansas & Oklahoma (AOK). Chances are high that you’ll see a few mixed into those high priority intermodal trains whizzing by. These cars can be seen all over the USA, Canada and Mexico, hauling containerized goods from port to warehouse. | In support of Prostate Cancer awareness and research, Rapido Trains is producing a limited run of freelance Prostate Cancer Awareness well cars. Rapido will donate 10% of sales for this car to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, in support of the Prostate Centre. | Just look at that see-through grating on the walkways! | But wait, there's more! Select Gunderson 53’ Husky Stack Cars come with two 53' containers. These are the 53' smoothside and new corrugated containers! We'll learn more about those further down. | |
The HO Scale Gunderson 53' Husky Stack Well Cars feature:
- Matching 53’ containers!
- See-through etched metal walkways
- Fully die-cast body for exceptional weight balance
- Detailed end handrails and brake detailing
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
- 70-ton Barber S-2 trucks with profiled metal wheels
- Minimum suggested radius: 22”
Here are the schemes for the cars with containers.
| Now we have the cars without containers. These will be sold as 2-packs. | |
Order up! We know these cars won't last long once they arrive at hobby shops so place your orders now. Order them now through your favorite dealer or directly from us.
The order deadline for these is ALSO October 15th, 2026. All these cars will not be arriving at the same time, in case you like to buy All The Things.
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NEW MODEL! HO Scale 53' Containers
Rapido is excited to announce a new 53’ Corrugated Container that pairs well with our 53’ Gunderson Well Car.
Click here or the photo above to watch the launch video.
Read on for more info!
| An EMP container already showing its age. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lassahn. | |
You might ask, “which 53’ Corrugated Container?” In the 2010s, steel corrugated 53’ foot containers became the new standard for containers, instead of aluminum smoothside containers. Among the many builders (CIMC, Fuwa, Dong Fang, Jindo, etc.), there were several spotting features and design differences that made these unique in look and feel.
Those days have since passed. Now builders tend to homogenize design features and make similar choices as fellow builders. To add to the change to a more monotonous design, some large fleet owners no longer allow a builder’s sticker to be placed on the containers.
| In the 2020s, the most significant design aspect of a 53’ container is which overall style it can be categorized as, regardless of builder. The key differences are the door corrugations, nose corrugations, and side panels. | UMAX! Photo courtesy of Jeff Lassahn. | |
Starting in 2019, certain 53’ container builds began to feature a heavy-top rail. The “classic” 53’ designs have the side panel corrugations that go nearly all the way to the roof, with just a thin edge along the roofline. The new design, by contrast, gives the top of the container a hefty structure mirroring the bottom.
Both styles of corrugated 53’ containers are still being built today, but the heavy-top rail containers have become much more common, with large fleets among many owners. These will be sure to add visual variety to your container trains!
| JB Hunts everywhere. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lassahn. | We also can't forget our original smoothside 53' container! These insulated dry boxes are ubiquitous in intermodal trains and are used by Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and a huge number of transportation companies. They are also seen throughout the US Midwest and as far south as New Orleans. The models also feature an optional heater box and fuel tank. | |
The HO Scale 53' containers feature:
- New 53’ design with a heavy reinforced top rail
- 53’ containers designed to fit with containers in your fleet
- Multiple nose panel designs (horizontal corrugations and vertical ribs)
- Classic side panels with a thin top rail
- Variable hazmat placard placement per road name
- Two containers to a pack
Here are the schemes for the new 53' corrugated containers.
| Next up we have the 53' smoothsides. | |
As with most modern container schemes — they rarely sit on shelves for long! We know these'll be a big hit so order them now through your favorite dealer or directly from us.
The order deadline is October 15th, 2026. We will be making some extra stock of containers, but we really appreciate if you would preorder otherwise, like usual, the stock will sell out before they arrive.
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NEW SCHEMES! HO Scale Drop Bottom Gondola
We’re excited to offer three new HO Scale Drop Bottom Gondola schemes! These will be available in limited quantities so make sure to get your orders in ASAP!
Click here or the photo above to watch the launch video.
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The Pressed Steel Car Company built 500 41’-6” drop bottom gondolas for the Northern Pacific in 1940. These cars were used in general service on the NP, in particular coal and ore service. Numerous railroads used almost identical gondola designs like the Great Northern, Canadian National and Western Pacific.
While these cars were built in the 1940s, many lasted in service into the 1980s. They can fit any transition era to early modern layout, including Jason's!
| The Great Northern and Western Pacific Drop Bottom Gondolas are exclusively available through HobbyTyme. To order the these schemes from HobbyTyme, click here to see a list of dealers they work with. | |
Rapido’s HO Scale Drop Bottom Gondolas feature:
- Fully detailed interior and underframe
- Rapido semi-scale metal couplers
- Free-rolling trucks with turned metal wheels
- Accurate paint and decoration
- Multiple road numbers per scheme
- Suggested minimum radius: 18"
Now check out the paint schemes below!
| The gondolas won't be on shelves for long so get your orders in now! Order them now through your favorite dealer or directly from us. | | |
NEW EXCLUSIVE! Home Shops Halliburton Pneumatic Railcar
The Home Shops Halliburton Pneumatic Railcars are here with three colorful freelance schemes! These cars feature three vertically mounted cylindrical tanks. These tanks were placed on a flatcar-like platform with a brakewheel at one end and vertical handrail supports on both ends. They measured 43’7” in length with a 70-ton capacity and 2,400 cubic feet of volume.
Their primary purpose is to haul dry bulk materials such as cement, pozzolan and fly ash — all critical to oilfield operations for the drilling of mud.
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Home Shops Leasing
The Home Shops Leasing (HSLX) Halliburton‑style pneumatic hopper is a modern private‑owner car designed for sealed, contamination‑free service. Finished in a clean gray scheme with bold “HOMESHOPS LEASING” lettering, it carries the stenciled safety slogans “Keep it Dry” and “Keep it Safe,” underscoring its specialized role in handling fine mineral products. The HSLX hopper will fit right in as a leased-service car carrying important minerals to and from terminals.
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Salt City
The Salt City Minerals pneumatic hopper moves ultra‑fine, ultra‑pure salt that demands sealed, contamination‑free handling. Finished in Salt City’s bold red‑and‑white scheme and prominently lettered “SALT CITY MINERALS – ULTRA‑PURE SALT DIVISION,” this car stands out from any other car in a consist. Anywhere you need bulk salt, this car will handle it!
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Splitrock Mining Company
The Splitrock Mining Company pneumatic railcar is stenciled for dolomite loading at Northern Dolomite Products in Agate Bay, Minnesota. Dolomite is an essential mineral in the ore‑mining process, used as a fluxing agent to condition iron ore and remove impurities before shipment. These cars are essential in the Vermillion Range where high‑grade ore demands equally high‑quality supporting materials.
Order your cars today!
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Freelance Focus: Copper State Railway
The Copper State Railway brings Arizona flavor to Rapido’s latest GP38 release, now open for preorder. Born from Southern Pacific’s Phoenix spin‑off in 1969 and later expanded through acquisitions like the Lost Dutchman Railroad, CSR has grown into a versatile regional carrier with copper traffic, wood products, and welded rail shipments. The new GP38s capture that modern shortline energy with sharp Copper State graphics, giving modelers a believable, contemporary locomotive that fits seamlessly into both freelance and proto‑freelance rosters.
To learn more about the Copper State Railway, click here.
| Order the Copper State Railway GP38s by clicking here. | | |
But wait, there's more! We also have Copper State Railway PC&F 4124 cu.ft. Boxcars! Built for the rugged, copper anode service, these cars race back and forth from the smelter to industries across North America. Their desert blue and metallic‑copper paint scheme reflects CSR’s mining heritage. This 4124 cu.ft. Boxcar is a believable, era‑appropriate addition to any modern regional or freelance roster.
Order the Copper State Railway boxcars by clicking here.
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N Scale F40PH-2D
The N Scale F40PH-2D Locomotive are in stores now! This means we have a new video highlighting this run and all of their features. Join Jeremy on this fast-paced video as he shows them off.
Click here or the photo above to watch.
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The St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet — July 23rd and 25th
The St. Louis RPM will once again be held a the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Illinois. We'll be bringing an assortment of models to show off. So, head over to Schnucks for some snacks and then come see us at the show. And bring us the snacks.
Where: Gateway Convention Center - Collinsville, IL
When: July 23rd, 24th and 25th
What to bring: Your best questions and model suggestions!
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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.
| | The CLRV painted sample has arrived and we couldn't be more excited! | | Please note the signboard is incorrect — this will be corrected for production. | We know Jason will be happy with these VIA and CN Balloon Tops. | | The Canadian National green versions! | | Exciting times at Rapido! The weathered Hawker Van looks AMAZING! | | |
One more look at the CN faded van. We can't get enough!
Below, we see the as-delivered version on a piggyback train.
| | Patched-out vans! Our latest patches include the ex-Devco CN vans, which ironically started life on the CN. | | |
That wraps up our double June newsletters. Lots of stuff packed neatly into one month! Did you find something you wanted from these announcements? If not, we'll be back with more in July.
Bobby
Expert Powerwasher
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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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