Welcome to a newsletter that ought to be accompanied by popping champagne corks and fireworks

What’s in this issue:

And finally...

Why is this issue so exciting?

Well, we were originally going to use this newsletter to tell you whether our The Titfield Thunderbolt taster was real or not. Then we thought we'd add the fact that we have over 50 stockists signed up who are ready and waiting to take your order.

And then, just as we were about to put this issue to bed, came the news that WE HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT!

It might have been a long time coming (we'd love to publish the full story one day except that no one would believe it) but everyone at Rapido Trains UK would like to thank Andy Collins at Barclays and Mark Green at Crowe for everything they have done to finally get us up and running.

Janet, who controls to purse strings from the Toronto office, summed up our feelings beautifully: "Long live Rapido Trains UK!"

And to add to the celebrations, this issue is also Dr Who free! Woo!

Model Rail '16XX': Solving the DCC issue

Before we start, we need to address an issue with the ‘16XX’ 0-6-0PT that we made for Model Rail. A trickle of issues about performance on DCC turned into a small flood and so we got Mohan George, the DCC and electronics guru in our Toronto office, on the case.

Mohan tracked down the source of the problem: a rogue voltage suppressor. These are designed to protect delicate electrical components from unwanted voltage spikes. We'd specified 27V but, unfortunately, the circuit board supplier fitted one limited to 18V, which is prime output voltage for most DCC systems!

So, what are we doing about it? Well, if you’re electrically handy, you can simply remove the suppressor.

Otherwise, you'll just have to hold tight for the replacement circuit boards that we're having made to arrive. You can order one by clicking here. As soon as they land in the UK, we'll send it to you free of charge.

If you’re in any doubt about fitting a new circuit board or modifying the electrical components, don’t worry. Drop us a line and we'll see what we can do to help.

Just because we’ve been a bit Titfield focused lately, we haven’t forgotten about the projects that we announced back in December.

Cor, doesn’t that seem like a long time ago?

Here are the latest updates from each one:

We made a couple of flippant comments last time...

ANDY: Only a couple?

…but one of those was about Jason’s ‘love’ of the ‘15XX’.

JASON: Apparently, that was sarcasm. You know that it's Americans that don't get sarcasm, right?

BILL: Oi!

RICHARD: As great as it looks, all that outside valvegear actually requires more moulds than you'd expect from a locomotive of this size, which is just the sort of worry that keeps Jason awake at nights. Due to this, we’ve had to increase the RRP to £149.95 (£249.95 with sound) just to cover the costs of making it. We trust you understand the reasons behind this.

Raising prices is never an easy decision to make but it's always worth bearing in mind this famous quote from Rolls-Royce's Henry Royce:

“Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten”.

But in happier news, take a look at the N gauge Class 28 Co-Bo video below. Isn’t this little locomotive going to be a stunner?

With the 1:76 scale Fleetlines now in production, our friends at TTC Diecast have commissioned four exclusive ones. One, No. 6537 (registration SDA 573S), will be produced in WMPTE blue/cream with Route 9 (Quinton via Hagley Road) destination blinds.

The highlights, however, are the three West Midlands Fleetlines that received

this striking livery to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. The three vehicles are:

TTC is also taking pre-orders for ex-WMPTE Fleetlines in Midland Fox livery. These models will form part of the second run of Fleetlines that are provisionally planned for late 2022.

If you fancy any of these exclusive Fleetlines, you can order them from TTCDiecast now. 

We've also made a couple of flippant comments about 3mm:1ft scale

Class 28s in past newsletters.

ANDY: Again, just a couple?!

We might have made this scale seem like a bit of a joke but we’re serious: if there’s enough demand for a ready-to-run 3mm model to 21st Century standards, then we’ll consider making one.

We have to be honest though. The 3mm market is so small that if we were to make something, every 3mm modeller would have to dip their hands in their pockets and buy one. The market's just not big enough to produce something that might only appeal to a fraction of it. So we're looking at vehicles that will find a home on all layouts, such as the Mk 1 coach (see above) or the 16t mineral wagon.

With that in mind, we’ve had a chat with the 3mm Society and have devised the following plan. The society is to canvass its members over the summer via its newsletter in order to find out if there’s a 3mm model that would satisfy all. It will then report back to us and we can decide if such a project is financially viable.

If you’d like to have your say, click here and sign up to the society's newsletter.

We can make no promises but this is probably the best chance to see a 3mm:1ft ready-to-run model to 21st Century standards.

If you haven't seen this already, it's seriously worth five minutes of your time. Jason has a typical North American model railway: it fills a good portion of his basement and is about the size of a small two-bedroom flat. Until Covid, his layout was just timber and track. But Covid has been good to Jason's layout. He's spent the last year adding scenery and buildings to the top level. (Did I mention it's a triple-deck layout with a main line run of over 600ft?)

He got a hold of a miniature camera and filmed the layout from the perspective of a passenger on board a Canadian VIA train back in 1980. Even if you have no interest in Canadian trains, we think you'll be very impressed by this video. Other people have been... It's had 70,000 views in its first week!

Please click here or on the image below to watch.

We know that you’re all itching to buy our products so here’s some exciting news: we have over 50 model shops and retailers who are ready and able to take YOUR orders!

From Scotland to Cornwall, Kent to Wales, there's a Rapido Trains UK stockist near you. To see the full list, click here.

Don't forget that you'll also be able to order direct from the Rapido Trains UK website too (although we won't discount below the RRP in fairness to our retailers). As Barclays announced that we'd got our account just before this issue closed for press, Andy (and IT expert brother Steve) have worked flat out to get the online shop working in time for today's announcement.

JASON: If the pubs were open, I'd buy you both a well deserved pint! Now go and get some sleep!

ANDY: Would you expect anything else?

The $64,000 question: was our faux The Titfield Thunderbolt film poster an elaborate practical joke or an announcement that would delight fans of this seminal railway classic?

1:76 scale models inspired by The Titfield Thunderbolt. They will be the most accurate The Titfield Thunderbolt models ever produced and are being developed with full co-operation of STUDIOCANAL, which owns the rights to film.

Thunderbolt (aka Lion)

The Titfield Thunderbolt might have starred Ealing Studios regulars such as John Gregson, Stanley Holloway and Sid James but we know that the real stars were ‘14XX’ No. 1401 and Thunderbolt.

In the film, Thunderbolt, the Mallingford-Titfield line’s original locomotive, is resurrected to haul the official inspection train in the wake of Pearce & Crump’s sabotage attempts. Issues with its coupling adds drama to the inspection train but the antique locomotive responds to the attentions of Rev Weech and Bishop Matthews and saves the day.

Thunderbolt is, of course, Liverpool & Manchester Railway 0-4-2 Lion. We’re producing Lion in its post-1928 condition. So if you’re not modelling The Titfield Thunderbolt, you’ll be able to run our Lion on 1930s LMS layouts or even 1980s BR layouts too.

"I did once mount the North Star, you know, Gooch's 2-2-2 with the double crank driving axle but this...?!"

In the opening scene, where the blast of a Bulleid whistle is answered by the curious two-tone cheep from No. 1401, the 0-4-2T clanks along the branch line with an unusual low-roofed bogie coach in tow. It’s a strange looking vehicle, with its end balconies. So what is it?

Well, it was one of a pair, Nos. 7 and 8, built by the Great Eastern Railway for the Wisbech & Upwell Tramway. Their low height and open platforms enabled passengers to use them from the W&U’s roadside depots.

Both were transferred to the Kelvedon & Tollesbury Light Railway in Essex in 1928 after the W&U suspended passenger services. BR scrapped No. 8, which starred in the film, but the body of No. 7 survived and it’s been fully restored at the North Norfolk Railway.

‘Toad’ No. W68740 is the only vehicle not wrecked by Pearce & Crump. It ran behind No. 1401 and the tram car and behind Thunderbolt and the Loriot Y (with its coach body load).

Loriot Y No. 41989 with Dan's house on top.

Platelayer-cum-fireman Dan, played by Hugh Griffith, lived in what appeared to be a grounded coach body. In actual fact, this was a prop built for the film. When his house is commandeered for use on the railway, it is mounted on a GWR ‘Loriot Y’ wagon. As you can see from this 3D print of the CAD, it comes with a full interior. Andy's painted and detailed this interior to show you how far you can take it. The model interior will be detailed in several colours, but you'll need Andy's skills to make it look quite like that.

The GWR built two ‘Loriot Y’ machinery trucks in 1939. No. 41989 was used in the film but has not survived but its sister, No. 41990, has. It’s currently based on the Severn Valley Railway.

So that’s what we’re making. But how will you be able to buy them?

Our Titfield models will come in three packs:

Plus: SKU920001, the Bedford OB, will be available as a standalone model.

All models will be in stock by March 6 2023. You’ll be able to buy them direct from www.rapidotrains.co.uk or from our retailers. Prices are still to be confirmed.

No. 1401 arrives at Lydbrook Junction with the 3.51pm from Monmouth Troy to Ross-on-Wye on May 15 1957. The Titfield Thunderbolt star was withdrawn from Gloucester Horton Road on October 6th 1958 and scrapped at Swindon in 1959.

While we’re really excited about the above models – and we know that you will be too – there will be some who will unhappy that we haven’t added No. 1401 to the range.

As Mr Valentine tells the policeman, “There’s no pleasing some people!”

But why not? Firstly, Hattons only produced a ‘14XX’ a couple of years ago and though not perfect, it’s generally a pretty decent little model.

Secondly, we’re going to have our work cut out with these five models and with our limited R&D Department (ie, Richard & Andy), we’d like to bring you the other locomotives, coaches and wagons we’ve got planned (and are already working on).

But never rule out the ‘14XX’ for the future…

Rev Weech takes Thunderbolt out of Titfield station with the official inspection train. Just be careful with that coupling!

By Andy

Our surprise announcement in early March generated a huge response on modelling forums and social media channels. One common question was: why announce and produce The Titfield Thunderbolt models now?

The ‘why’ is easy.

The Titfield Thunderbolt is one of, if not the, most popular British railway films ever produced. Inspired by the group of enthusiasts who had taken over ailing Talyllyn Railway in mid-Wales, Ealing Studio’s screenwriter TEB ‘Tibby’ Clarke created the story of a group of villagers who are determined to run their branch line themselves after British Railways announces its closure.

The film never loses its charm, which is why you can watch it over and over again… and here at Rapido Trains UK, we have. And we’re probably not alone.

The Titfield Thunderbolt kick-started Andy's interest in railways. Here, our Ops Manager-to-be, in fetching red wellies, cops 33051 Shakespeare Cliff at Maidstone West.

My dad recorded it off the TV when I was about 2 or 3. I watched this VHS tape (remember them?) over and over again and it’s probably responsible for starting me on my path to working with steam locomotives and railways.

The same thing happened in Richard’s house.

RICHARD: But on Betamax. Along with The Dam Busters and Convoy.

ANDY: That explains a lot!

Realising that so many people shared a connection to the film, it seemed somewhat strange that nobody had produced a decent quality set of models before. Well, that was something we could fix.

Choosing a Rapido project always revolves around commercial decisions: will a project be popular? Will it sell well? How much will it cost to make?

But if there’s some personal interest, then so much the better.

Bill and Richard love all things Great Western so the ‘Toad’ and Loriot Y hit the mark. Richard also likes anything East Anglian, so the W&U tramcar was a must. Jason LOVES his buses, scoring points for the Bedford OB.

And me? Well, I like anything connected with the railways of Leeds and Lion is one of my favourite engines! The Titfield range ticks all the boxes.

Why now?

Well, March 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the film’s release and what better way is there to celebrate than to produce a new range of models?

Filming The Titfield Thunderbolt took place in the sweltering heat of summer 1952 for general release the following year. But planning had begun much earlier than that.

Lion was still on display at Liverpool Lime Street station and needed a full examination before it could run again. In much the same way, Rapido’s Titfield project had to start well before its March 2023 delivery date.

But we couldn’t do anything without securing permission from STUDIOCANAL, which owns the rights to Ealing Studios' archive. We negotiated for the exclusive rights to produce four items of rolling stock and the Bedford OB.

While this was going on, we also had to source drawings and images and to speak to owners of real vehicles. We dropped Simon Castens a line too. Simon owns The Titfield Thunderbolt Bookshop and is a respected 'Titfield expert'. He kindly agreed to help. We also watched the film many, many times.

STUDIOCANAL informed us that, on March 5th, another party had tried to acquire the rights to the film. We’d already signed the deal so the approach was turned down. Then, the following Monday, another manufacturer announced that it was making Lion.

The Titfield Thunderbolt was Ealing Studios' first colour film and offers wonderful period views of the 1950s railway, such as Bristol Temple Mea- sorry, Mallingford.

JASON: Am I really that predictable?

ANDY: We've had a great time seeing the fallout and reading all the online comments and the correspondence you've sent us. As you can see, our Thunderbolt/Lion is making great progress and the rest of the range is coming together nicely as well. Some models will be ready in 2022 and the rest will come out in time for the 70th anniversary in March 2023.

RICHARD: Well, wasn't that an exciting issue? But before we go, Andy wants to leave you with a fun fact:

ANDY: Did you know several scenes from Dr Who in the 1960s were filmed at the same studios where scenes from The Titfield Thunderbolt were also filmed?

RICHARD: Dang it, so near and yet so far...