|
Rapido Newsletter Vol. 233
©2026 Rapido Trains Inc.
| | |
Dear Rapido Customer,
Welcome to another edition of Rapido News. This month we'll be taking a look at the August order deadlines (we don't have any in July for some reason). We'll also take a look at some new samples and highlights from the Southwest Chief Tour!
| | |
In the 233rd issue...
- July U30CG Order Deadline Postponed
- August Order Deadlines
- New Videos
- Events and Shows
- Home Shops Spotlight
- Rapido and Me
- Tooling, Factory and Shipping Updates
If you are using a web-based email service such as Gmail, be sure to click on the link at the top of this 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.
| | |
HO Scale Santa Fe U30CG Locomotive
The Rapido HO Scale Santa Fe U30CG Locomotive originally had an order deadline set for July 15th. We have postponed the deadline until we have a proper working sample, complete with sound and lights to show off to you.
In the meantime, check out this see-through grille with radiator fan detail visible behind. Whoa! Bazinga!
| Make sure to get your orders in as we will be closing within the next few months. | | |
Order Deadline: August 17th, 2026
- HO Scale CEM and Standard Bilevel Commuter Cars
- HO Scale Trinity 6221 and 6241 Plastic Pellet Hopper
- HO Scale Southern Pacific PC&F B-100-32 and B-100-34 Boxcar
- HO Scale Greenbrier Transverse Coil Car
| | |
HO Scale CEM and Standard Bilevel Commuter Cars
Our HO Scale Bilevel Commuter Cars have an order deadline for August 17th! Yee-haw! We're super excited to get these into production as it has been a popular project so far.
During the Southwest Chief Tour, we showed off a 3D printed model of the CEM Cab Car. Check out those photos below. The first test samples of the cab are due in a couple of weeks.
If the samples don't arrive before the deadline, we will postpone the deadline until September 15th.
| We received these 3D prints right before our trip. We're hoping to have early samples before the deadline! Stay tuned. | Now for the schemes! First we have the new 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.
| |
Order those CEM and Standard Bilevel commuter cars before August 17th, 2026. Or maybe September 15th.
Jason: You know that sounds completely wishy-washy. Nobody's gonna order these now, you ningnong!
Bobby: I'd rather be wishy-washy than wrong.
Jason: Good point. I take back the wishy-washy, but not the ningnong.
Bobby: Gee thanks.
Either way, you can order your Bilevels from your favorite/favourite hobby shop or directly through us. Order your fleety today!
Natasha: Fleety?
Bobby: FLEET. Everybody's a critic!
| | |
HO Scale Trinity 6221 and 6241 Plastic Pellet Hoppers
Hey, hey... the HO Scale Trinity 6221 and 6241 Plastic Pellet Hoppers have an order deadline on August 17th!
Here's our launch video for these cars. We'll be back next month with a more in-depth view on them. Click here or the photo above to watch.
We have some excellent first sample photos to share with you, as well! Check out those photos below.
| | |
Jeff's awesome camera has a focal length of two inches.
But these are going to be awesome, focus or no focus!
| The samples have arrived! These are early samples so some features are subject to revision. | The goal was to show the underbody, but actually this looks like a major derailment! | The etched metal walkways look amazing! | Here are the schemes! They are so completely different from each other!!! | |
Order all of your favorite Trinity hoppers before August 17th, 2026. You can do so from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us.
Jordan: Two of them are beige.
Bobby: Yes. I know. Can we please reduce the comments from the peanut gallery?
| | |
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 returned with much fanfare last month. These modern 40' boxcars continue to roll off service miles while carrying all sorts of steel products across North America.
- They are not from the 1950s! They are a modern car!
- They didn't just run on SP rails!
- They are STILL IN SERVICE!
Don't forget that these have an order deadline of August 17th.
Check out our short video of these cars in action. Click here to watch tor the photo above to watch.
| Here are a couple of shots on Steve Mahan's gorgeous layout! | Below, we have the schemes for these neat 40' boxcars. | |
Those copper anodes won't move themselves!
Jordan: They worked in general service also.
Bobby:
| | Order the B-100-32 and B-100-34 boxcars before August 17th. You can do so from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
HO Scale Greenbrier Transverse Coil Car
The HO Scale Greenbrier Transverse Coil Car has an order deadline of August 17th, 2026. These are some of the newest freight cars operating for railroads all across North America. They can be seen hauling coiled steel from mills to market. Every manifest has at least two and you'll need a bunch!
Check out the launch video for these cars. Click here or the photo above.
| These popular steel cars will be a sure sell out (just like the last run!) so make sure you get your orders in before August 17th. You can do so from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
HO Scale Home Shops PC&F 4124 cu.ft. Boxcar
The PC&F 4124 cu.ft. Boxcars also have the August 17th order deadline. These schemes represent three unique freelance roads, hauling copper anodes as well as a wide variety of other goods.
Check out the schemes below.
| | These neat boxcars wear a wide variety of schemes and will look great on your layout. You can order them before August 17th, from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
HO Scale Home Shops Greenbrier Coil Car
The Greenbrier Coil Cars have an August 17th order deadline, which is just two months away. The coil cars feature four awesome freelance schemes as well as three America 250 designs. We're super excited to get these cars to the next stage and will be back next month for a more in-depth look at them.
Check out the schemes below.
| These coil cars are ready to haul steel on your layout (and look good doing it)! Make sure to order them before August 17th, from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
New Video! CF7 First Batch Unboxing
The first batch of the HO Scale CF7 Locomotives are in stores now! To help mark this occasion, we have a new video showing off all of the neat details. Join Jordan... er, that guy again, to be amazed.
Click here or the photo above to watch.
We have some DCC/Sound-equipped Santa Fe CF7s in stock. Click here to order yours today!
| |
New Video! CN Hawker Siddeley Van (Caboose) Unboxing
Van and caboose fanatics, the HO Scale CN Hawker Siddeley Vans are leaving the factory now! Join Jeremy on this fast paced video to see all of those awesome details up close.
Click here or the photo above to watch.
| | |
The St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet — July 24th and 25th
The St. Louis RPM is next week! We're excited to have our samples to display as well as a few surprises. Come on down to Collinsville to check out what we have.
Where: Gateway Convention Center - Collinsville, IL
When: July 24th and 25th
What to bring: Your best questions and model suggestions!
| | |
Waterloo Railway Exposition — August 29th and 30th
The first annual Waterloo Railway Exposition kicks off on August 29th and we're super excited to be the main sponsor for this event! Come on down to friendly Waterloo, Ontario, and check out some awesome locomotives and cars, both in scale and 1:1 size! There will be train rides and more on both days, so you won't want to miss it.
Where: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and at Waterloo Central Railway in Waterloo, Ontario
When: August 29th and 30th
What to look for: Train models, both in 1:87th scale and 1:1 scale
| |
NHRHTA Convention & Train Show — September 11th to the 13th
The NHRHTA Convention & Train Show once again is at the Holiday Inn in New London, Connecticut. Alex will have our New Haven models on display as well as answer any of your questions and you may even spot Paul walking around.
Where: Holiday Inn, 35 Governor Winthrop Blvd, New London, Connecticut
When: September 11th, 12th and 13th
Who to look for: Alex!
| |
Rapido US Open House Event — October 4th
This year we are having our one day US open house at the Illinois Railway Museum! Come check out displays, ride some trains and take in all of the awesome displays the museum has to offer.
Where: Illinois Railway Museum, Union, Illinois
When: October 4th
What to say: "Lemme see those awesome trains, in 1:1, 1:160th and 1:87th scales!"
| |
Colorado Rail Prototype Modelers Meet — October 16th to the 18th
The third annual Colorado Rail Prototype Modelers Meet is back at the Island Grove Event Center at Greely, Colorado. Come on out to see our models and all sorts of other surprises!
Where: Island Grove Event Center, Greeley, Colorado
When: October 16th, 17th and18th
What to do: Be there or be square
| | |
Freelance Focus: The Lost Dutchman Railroad
The Lost Dutchman Railroad is a "what-if" bridge line in the late 1960s. The road is ripe with interchange traffic, industries and even preserved steam locomotives! This railroad has an eclectic history full of brightly colored locomotives and freight cars.
| | |
To learn more about the Lost Dutchman Railroad, click here!
Order the Lost Dutchman Railroad PC&F 4124cu.ft Boxcars by clicking here.
| | |
Rapido's Southwest Chief Adventure — A Recap
Jordan and Jason had a great adventure in the US of A! Thank you to everyone who came out to see them! And a special thank you to Vic Yoder for being our host and tour guide all around California!
| |
Jordan discusses B100-32 boxcars with Rick Selby and Dave Hussey at BAPM.
It was a great RPM!
| |
Here's our good friend Vic Yoder, standing by an Amtrak ALC-44.
He was a huge help, working behind the scenes to make this trip work.
| Our CLRV switches ballast hoppers on Steve Mahan's gorgeous Pacific Coast Lines layout! | Jordan and Jason climb the same peak as Captain Kirk did in "Arena." They wish they had viewed the footage first as they climbed WAY TOO FAR UP THE ROCK! | |
Modern (sort of) meets the past.
The U30CG versus the P42DC, a study in GE passenger locomotives.
| Joel Wendt and Mike Du Mond visited us in Albuquerque and we had a mini train show in our Superliner sleeper vestibule! Below, Jason checks out a passing #3. | |
The boys almost did not make it to the final stop at Des Plaines Hobbies, as a tornado blew through Kansas and the train was stuck in Topeka for over four hours.
Had the train been a few hours later, it might have gotten messy...
| | |
Rapido and Me
Check out some of the recent photo submissions we've received from our friends. Remember, you too can be featured in Rapido and Me. You just have to send them to us at trains@rapidotrains.com or tag us on social media (and not in a story that will disappear after 24 hours!).
| Gorgeous mood photography of our E units and gallery cars by Dave Zeman! | This SW9 has been weathered by our good friend, Vic Yoder! | |
But wait, there's more! Check out this PRR X31 boxcar, also weathered by Vic.
It's the summer of Vic!
| | |
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.
| | Check out the close coupling on the O&W FTs. | Holy FT! The FT locomotives have arrived and are shipping from our warehouse now. | Here's the NP FT A and B units. | The 1937 AAR Boxcars are here and they look GREAT! Get them while you can as they ship from our warehouse soon. | Check out that etched-metal roofwalk! | Another angle of the Erie and Soo Line cars. The CP Spans the World logo looks great. | | |
We're looking forward to seeing the GP9u and Slugs arrive!
They should be here soon.
| | Some progress photos of the Helium car. | | The N Bilevel cars are currently in production. | | |
This closes out our June order deadline newsletter. We'll be back very soon with even more exciting announcements!
Bobby
Cheese Connoisseur
🧀
| | |
USA: 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204, USA
Canada: 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, ON L3R 5H5
| | | | |
