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Rapido UK Newsletter No. 62
©2025 Rapido Trains Ltd
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When you consider that it has only been 2 weeks since we sent out a special announcement and minor mid-month update, you would assume that we wouldn’t have much progress or anything new to talk about. Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Much like October, this month has been samples galore, but we've also had deliveries aplenty, attended the largest model railway show of the year and managed to squeeze in a teaser for something rather special that’s on the way.
Oh, and we have some delivery updates for a handful of projects that many of you have been asking where they had got too. We're sure these will make many of you rather happy!
So, let's begin this newsletter by heading to a quaint Yorkshire branchline with a few siblings to wave at some passing trains.
| | 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. | | "Very beautiful and wonderful things do happen, don't they? And we spend most of our lives in the hope of them." | | On the eve of the National Festival of Railway Modelling, we shared a teaser of an exciting upcoming project on our Social Media channel. In case you missed it, here it is: | | We will be sharing more details on this historic project a bit later next year. You are just going to have to join the paper chase to find out more and sit tight for future newsletters! | | We may not have a full announcement for you to enjoy in this newsletter, but this month's highlights are a wagonload of samples. So, sit back, read on, and enjoy this mega update covering many of our projects. | | Star Spangled Steamer – USATC S160 Painted Production Samples! (OO Gauge) | | |
When we received the engineering prototypes for these powerful locos, we were blown away, but nothing prepared us for how epic the first painted production samples of our S160 would look. Turning up at Rapido HQ practically on the eve of the National Festival of Railway Modelling, we were able to put these amazing samples on show for the public to enjoy.
Other than our little tease, this makes these S160 samples the newsletter's headline act.
| | The real locos were designed by our American cousins as a powerful but functional wartime machine, so the S160's unrefined look made it stand out against the other British locos of the time. However, to many enthusiasts, that’s what makes it so fascinating. Spotters young and old always love to see something interesting running, and you don’t get much more interesting than this American import. | | Covered in a multitude of pipework and separately-fitted detailing parts, these impressive models bring this wartime hero to life. With 'U S A' boldly painted on the tender and a quintessentially American lack of subtlety, the painted production samples show just how remarkable the upcoming models of the S160 will be. We predict that these will become one of the true gems in your collection. | | They aren’t just a pretty face either. Built with a combination of metal and plastic parts, these models incorporate the higher level of detail that injection-moulded plastic offers, with the increased weight of the metal parts. This is most predominant in our design of the boiler, as it has a metal core and an injection-moulded plastic exterior. The result is a model that achieves the best of both worlds. When attached to the metal chassis and wheels, this makes for quite a heavy loco, great for pulling big trains! | | Preservation fans are eagerly waiting for their models too, as there are quite a few surviving examples across the UK. We have included many of them in our range and are pleased to say that we have received painted production samples of two of them for you to feast your eyes on. | | There are many of you who are champing at the bit to experience the amazing sounds that the DCC-Sound-fitted versions will produce. The unmistakably haunting tone of a North American chime whistle is a thing of beauty, and with these absolutely incredible painted production samples in hand, we come one step closer to having these blasting around your layout. | | In the meantime, we have put together a little video that demonstrates just how good these are going to sound. Please excuse the unpainted samples in the video; it was recorded a little while ago, but we thought you’d still like to see and hear what these models can do. | | We are going to begin the full review process of these samples over the next few weeks, and once they are signed off, the models will be completed by the factory. With the colour samples in hand, we have a better indication of when these models are likely to arrive, so we have chosen to move their delivery date to some point in Q1 of next year. Keep an eye on our future newsletters for more shipping updates on this project. | | There are also a very limited number of OO Gauge USATC S160 models still in stock directly through our website. If you haven’t pre-ordered yours yet, we may still have the one you are looking for. But don’t be hasty, as these are sure to sell out. | | Stage 3 Samples – Even More Evolution Coach Batch 1 Painted Samples (OO Gauge) | | We have been teasing you with colourful Evolution Coach samples over the last few months, so we were really pleased when our factory sent us two more from Stage 3 of Batch 1. | | The Great Central Railway and Great Western Railway versions that we have received are both fitted with the stylish Clerestory roofs. Their fine lining, smart colour palette, and fitted details make for a beautiful rake of pre-grouping coaches for both companies. | | These follow on nicely from their predecessors. The GCR and GWR examples exemplify what makes the Evolution range so appealing, as they capture the look and feel of the coaches used by these companies, but are still distinctly different from the other examples in the range. | |
These samples were shown off to the public at the recent NEC show, and the positive feedback that we received from those who attended was much appreciated.
With numerous lovely Great Western locos to pair with these coaches, including our 44xx that arrived earlier this year, we are sure the GWR coaches are going to make many Western modellers very happy.
| The Great Central Railway has gradually seen more and more ready-to-run models produced over the last few years, but bogie coaching stock seems to be a gaping hole in GCR collections. Not anymore! This ritzy range of coaches will give GCR modellers everything they need to fill their stations. Feels like we might need to consider something to put in front of them, doesn’t it? | Now, before we are inundated with emails from disgruntled LNWR modellers, don’t panic. We haven’t forgotten you. The LNWR coaches are incredibly detailed, so our factory just needs a little more time to complete them. The current plan is that these models are still going to arrive in the Stage 3 delivery of Batch 1; the factory simply hasn’t finished the samples yet. If this changes, we will inform everyone via the newsletter. We will also show them off in a future newsletter the moment they arrive. | We have sold out of all the GWR and GCR-liveried Evolution Coaches from Batch 1 directly through our website. However, many of our Official Retailers took orders for these models and may have stock remaining. To avoid disappointment, we suggest you contact your favourite retailer as soon as possible if you are still trying to pre-order yours. | | Ore Blimey! – LMS Iron Ore Hopper Painted Production Samples (OO Gauge) | | With several different wagons due to arrive over the coming quarter, it was only a matter of time before we received more painted production samples for one of them. So here they are in all their industrious glory, the LMS 20t Iron Ore Hoppers. | |
The impressive level of detail we have achieved on these models is enhanced further by these painted samples. The riveted vertical braces, corner braces at the top of the hopper, and underframe details are particular highlights.
We couldn’t talk about the LMS Iron Ore Hoppers without looking at some of the tooling differences we have decided to include, as they look fantastic.
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Although they were originally created to transport iron ore, they were utilised by British Railways to carry lime, and by several privately-owned companies to carry other minerals such as coal. This led to quite a few examples being converted to facilitate their new role.
The version that BR converted to carry lime was given a covered roof with a loading hatch. This changes the profile of the wagon considerably, and we think they are looking fantastic. These will certainly make the perfect vessel for some heavy weathering. If you do choose to weather yours, please send us some photos. We would love to see them!
| The final variant we have represented was a batch of wagons that were extended vertically with wooden boards to increase their carrying capacity. Given the peculiar name “Greedy Boards”, these wagons were used by the NCB to carry coal and some even ended up in the hands of the British Sugar Corporation. We have included the bright yellow BSC version in our own range, and NCB versions are available as an exclusive triple pack from our friends at World of Railways. You can find out more and order your W.O.R Exclusive versions HERE. | | Rails of Sheffield Exclusive Update - LBSC 4-Wheel & 6-Wheel Brake Van Engineering Prototypes (OO Gauge) | | |
Brighton fans, rejoice! We have engineering samples of the upcoming LBSC 4-Wheel & 6-Wheel Brake Van that we are producing as an exclusive for Rails of Sheffield.
These delightful little brake vans are the perfect complement to the growing number of LBSCR ready-to-run models that have been released or announced recently. We can’t wait to put these behind our E1s and Brighton box vans!
| | We are chuffed with how the subtle details have turned out, including the separately-fitted handrails, hand brake and chimney. The interior detail is the icing on the cake, including the stove and guard's desk. | | Despite their modest size, they were utilised on freight trains across the south. Often worked in pairs, one at the front of the train and a second at the rear, these are a must-have for any Brighton modeller with an interest in moving goods across their layout. | | These will now undergo a review by our design team over the coming weeks, and we hope to be able to move them to the next stage of their development shortly. Keep an eye on future newsletters for more news on these superb little southern shorties. | | Surprise Suburban Sample - LNER C12 4-4-2T 3D-Printed Prototype (OO Gauge) | | |
It wouldn't be a big show without our friends at Modelu delivering a box of goodies, and the National Festival of Railway Modelling was no different.
We proudly put this magnificent sample of the LNER C12 on show the moment it arrived, and we were over the moon to see a design that we had been working on for months finally realised in model form.
| | We asked them to make one of the versions that features the condensing apparatus, for the simple fact that condenser pipes are cool. Pun intended, of course! | | |
This is only an early prototype, but it has created a very strong first impression with us and the public who saw it at the show.
The order books are open for the LNER C12. You can pre-order yours directly through our website or via any of our Official Retailers.
| | We weren’t kidding when we said that we had received an enormous number of deliveries since the last newsletter; there were three products that arrived at the same time! We suspect you are going to want to see what niceties are heading your way, so let’s not keep you waiting. | | LNER J52/2 (GNR J13) has arrived (OO Gauge) | | |
We couldn’t have asked for better timing if we tried. The LNER J52 has arrived in the UK, and it’s only been a matter of weeks since we announced the LNER C12. What a great time to be an LNER or GNR modeller.
Passing our QC checks with flying colours, the J52 has already been sent to direct customers and Official Retailers. So, if you ordered directly from our website, keep an eye out for an email from us; it will contain a reminder and a payment link so you can complete your order.
| | These highly-detailed tank engines will complement the GNR coaches from our Evolution coach range, and with the coaches due to arrive at some point early next year, we look forward to receiving lots of nice photos of this perfect pairing on your layouts very soon. | | Mini-Minks Make an Appearance - Iron Minks Dispatched (N Gauge) | | The 2nd item that arrived in our stupendous delivery was the N Gauge Iron Minks. These colourful little models have sailed through their QC check and are ready to be dispatched to customers and retailers in no time. | | We have already contacted customers who ordered these from us directly, so if you are still waiting for this, we suggest you check your spam/junk folders. Failing that, contact our Customer Service Department, and they will help you complete your order by phone. Deliveries were also sent to our Official Retailers who placed orders for these, so if you have pre-ordered through one of them, you will likely be contacted in due course. | | Port of Par Twins Arrive (OO Gauge) | | |
You may have seen a short video we shared on our social media a week ago regarding a slight technical hiccup that our OO Gauge Port of Par Twins had on arrival. To sum it up for those out of the loop, they looked perfect, but the DCC-fitted versions ran in the wrong direction.
We could have said nothing about this, but that’s not the Rapido way, is it?
There are lots of you looking forward to these, so we wanted to do everything in our power to ensure that these models were in your hands for Christmas. Facing the problem head-on and to get this resolved as quickly as possible, the team knuckled down. Following a week of hard work unboxing, amending, and then boxing loads of models, we can now confidently say that this technical glitch has been sorted.
This means they are now ready to be shipped and sent out to you, our patient customers.
Email reminders are likely to be sent over the next few days, so keep an eye on your inboxes if you have ordered these astonishing little locos directly from our website. Official Retailers will also be receiving their orders shortly.
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If you haven’t ordered your J52 or Iron Minks yet, we do still have a small number of certain versions available. So head to our website and place your orders, as stocks are limited. We have sold out of all of our Port of Par models, so if you are looking for one of these cheeky little shunters, we recommend you contact some of our Official Retailers to see if they still have stock available for you.
We are fast approaching the festive period, and this naturally means shipping sometimes takes a little longer to get where it's going. We will endeavour to get your orders to you as swiftly as possible, but we are at the mercy of the postal service. So, if you are keen to give one of your loved ones a Rapido model for Christmas, Chanukah or Festivus, we recommend you get your orders in ASAP to avoid disappointment.
| | Do You Like Fixing Model Trains? | | | |
- Do you like fixing model trains?
- Are you handy with tools?
- Have you ever wanted to work in the model railway industry?
(*ok this one isn't really required)
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We are growing! With our range getting bigger we are looking for a new Warranty Engineer to join our team. Working alongside our current staff you will be responsible for liaising with the small percentage of customers that have an issue with a model to provide advice or to carry out repairs.
This role will be based in our Staplehurst (Kent) warehouse and is a full time.
If you think you have the skills we need and will fit our team please click on the button below to see the full Job Description and how to apply.
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We have a couple of interesting OO projects that have progressed nicely enough for us to confidently close their order books. With colour samples of the MR 483 Class appearing at the NEC, and plenty of our previous PO Wagons out there in the wild being enjoyed by customers, we are sure models from both of these projects will be well received.
Make sure to get your pre-orders in by Monday the 1st of December, for the following items:
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The new year is fast approaching, so the next order books that are closing drift into the first few days of the new year. This one’s a whopper, as there are five mammoth projects that have their order books closing in early January. We suggest that while you are recovering from several weeks of overindulgence, make it your first New Year's resolution to check out what projects have order books closing, and think about what you are going to want to pre-order.
Order books close on Monday the 5th of January for the following:
| | Remember, if you want to pre-order any of these models, you can do so directly through our website or with any of our Official Retailers. | | Simply Red! – LTSR Not-Quite-Mink Livery and Detail Tweak (OO Gauge) | | |
We always pride ourselves on our livery research, but trying to determine which colour a vehicle is from a black and white photo sometimes results in us making mistakes.
On this occasion, we had a Not-Quite-Mink that was not-quite-right.
When we first put the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway liveried Not-Quite-Mink on sale, we advertised it in a grey livery. While doing further research and after consultation with our wagon oracles, we discovered that this was incorrect and should, in fact, be an eye-catching red. So, in our pursuit of a historically-literate livery, we have decided to change it from grey to red. This updated version now has a red body and solebar, with black running gear.
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While checking this wagon over, we also spotted that we had made an amusing inaccuracy on one of the wagon's key details. Its work plate should denote this wagon as being built by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway.
However, our first draft showed it as the London, Tilbury and Southern Railway. Which, of course, never existed. Now, we do not wish to offend the good people of Southend, so we have also tweaked this hard-to-see detail to ensure it is correct.
What do you think of this wagon's flashy new livery?
You can find out more about this colourful wagon, and the rest of the Not-Quite-Mink 2025 range by clicking on the button below.
| | National Festival of Railway Modelling Roundup | | |
As we write, the team have just returned from this year’s NFRM at the NEC, where Rapido are proud to be one of the main sponsors.
We’ve got something of a reputation for making a splash at this show, and 2025 was no exception.
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To celebrate our 009 range, the real-life 2ft Gauge Kerr, Stuart 0-4-0T ‘Diana’ was on our stand, thanks to owner Phil Mason and the Amerton Railway. ‘Diana’ was accompanied by our 009 layout with working samples, as well as ‘Ivor’ chuffing away all day AND the big test track too!
Taking centre stage on the test track were two blue beauties in the form of the S&DJR-owned 483 Class 4-4-0 No. 70, and preserved S160 ‘Franklin D. Roosevelt’ in the striking Longmoor Military Railway livery (exclusive to Rails of Sheffield).
As well as being a show sponsor, Rapido were represented in the stage area, with General Manager Andy Hardy joining the Q&A panel of manufacturers and retailers on Saturday. In addition to this, there was a 20-minute documentary about Marcia called The Pocket Peckett, which was shown on both days!
| | A new feature this year was THE MARBLE EXPRESS, a train-based game where punters could win big. Speaking of ‘big’, having almost delivered our N Gauge ‘Mini-Minks’, we thought a MEGA-MINK was the perfect addition to this train! | |
Pictured hiding among the wagons on the Gauge 1 test track above, a blown-up replica of our first Rapido-branded wagon, ‘Iron Mink’ No. 1, was made using 3D-printed files from the Gauge 1 3D Circle, and it was coupled to the game train. It fared well despite being hit by over 40 ball bearings over the course of the event. Must have been all that iron cladding!
Of course, some of our staff couldn’t resist going head-to-head in a face-off before the show began…
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Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand to chat, make suggestions, or even just to watch the trains go by. You helped make it an incredible event.
We look forward to seeing you at lots of future events.
| | A Gratifying Public Reaction | | |
In October’s newsletter, we published a Thought of the Month piece that highlighted Rapido’s disgust for the recent increase in online bullying and harassment, particularly that which targets innocent people with autism.
We wanted to share a follow-up to this piece, as the public response to it was wonderful, and really showed that we don’t stand alone when it comes to wanting to see an end to these hateful comments.
Almost as soon as it hit the public's inboxes, we were inundated with emails and calls responding to its content. Some thanked us for bringing this to the public's attention; others mentioned that they had suffered in silence for a long time, and no longer intend to; and we even received emails saying that we had opened their eyes to this, and they will think twice about how they interact with their club members, friends, and others within the hobby.
We couldn’t have been happier to receive these, as it means we aren’t alone in our way of thinking, and many are happy to stand with us as we try to eradicate this unpleasantness. It also means that the message reached a variety of people from a multitude of backgrounds and got through to a lot of them. How good is that!
All of the staff at Rapido would like to thank everyone who took the time to contact us regarding this matter. It really made us smile. If we can make the hobby a more welcoming place, one newsletter at a time, we will.
So, let's keep up the positivity and continue to be nice to our fellow hobbyists!
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The weather is setting in, so we are going to put the heaters on and hibernate in our offices so we can get some more design work done. The next newsletter is likely to land in your inbox a tad earlier, at some point just before Christmas. That’s because we don’t want you missing it while you are distracted by an Advent calendar opening, a marathon viewing of all ten episodes of Doctor Who: The War Games, or even a classic railway-themed movie starring Bernard Cribbins.
See you in December!
Oakworth, this is Oakworth!
The Rapido Trains UK Team
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You can write to us at Rapido Trains UK, Unit 3, Clinton Business Centre, Lodge Road, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0QF. Alternatively, you can call us on 03304 609496 or you can
e-mail us at customerservice@rapidotrains.co.uk
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