Rapido UK Newsletter No. 22
©2022 Rapido Trains Ltd
Dear Rapido Customer,

We had planned to make an 'N' gauge announcement yesterday, in advance of The International N Gauge Show this weekend. However, in light of the sad news of the passing of HM The Queen, we decided to hold back our announcement to this morning as a mark of respect.

To all those attending to TINGS today and tomorrow, have a great day. Sadly, we're not at TINGS this year but maybe in 2023 (more on this later).

There's a bit of an 'N' gauge theme this time so here’s what’s in store:

  • 'N' gauge New Tooling announcement
  • October order deadlines
  • New exclusive editions
  • Come and meet us
  • Full project report

And finally…

  • An ‘N’ gauge-themed look behind the scenes

Enjoy!
We're starting our 'Three Peaks' project with the Class 44. Here's a 3D render taken from the CAD file.
New project: the 'Three Peaks'

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we’re filling one of the biggest gaps in the ranks of ‘N’ gauge diesels with an all-new family of ‘Peaks’.

That nickname covered three very distinct classes, all of which were built by BR at Derby:

  • Class 44: ten built in 1959-1960; Sulzer 12LDA28A 2,300hp engine, Crompton-Parkinson electrical equipment
  • Class 45: 127 built (1960-62); Sulzer 12LDA28B 2,500hp engine, Crompton-Parkinson electrical equipment
  • Class 46: 56 built (1961-63); Sulzer 12LDA28B 2,500hp engine, Brush electrical equipment

As the name suggests, our 'Three Peaks' project means that we will produce all three classes because they effectively shared the same bodyshell and bogies.
Our new Class 44 features a variety of detail differences, including plated-over steps on the body side, removal of inner sandboxes and extra steps on the bogies. Our intention is to produce the definitive 'N' gauge Class 44.
We’re kicking off the project with the head of the family, the Class 44. All ten were named after English and Welsh mountains, hence the ‘Peak’ nickname. This nickname was later applied to the ‘45s’ and ‘46s’ too.

We only started work on this project a month or so ago and we’re delighted with how well it’s progressing. Although there’s still a bit of work to do, the CAD images and renders show great promise.
Our 'Three Peaks' will positively bristle with features, including directional lighting, Next18 DCC decoder socket, separately fitted handrails and windscreen wipers, 'plug in' discs so you can apply your chosen headcode and etched radiator fan grille with separate fan underneath.
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These models have been designed using original works drawings, a wealth of photographs and help from the Peak Locomotive Company.
We’re not yet at a stage where we can start taking orders but we can reveal which ‘44s’ we’re going to offer first. Please note that the following artworks are not the final versions.
948001: D1 Scafell Pike, original BR green
948002: D7 Ingleborough, original BR green
948003: D2 Helvellyn, original BR green with warning panels
948004: D5 Cross Fell, BR green with warning panels
948005: 6/D6 Whernside, BR green with full yellow ends
948006: 3 Skiddaw, BR blue
948007: 44007 Ingleborough, BR blue
948008: 440008/D8 Penyghent, preserved BR blue (1979-1981)
948009: D4 Great Gable, BR blue (preserved 2022)

Sound versions of these Class 44s will also be available.
October 1st order deadline reminder

Gosh, can it really only be a few weeks until we're into October? Those autumnal days seemed so far away when we made October 1st the order deadline for our Southern Railway eight-plank open wagons and the SECR six-wheel brake vans.

You should know the score by now: in order to secure the SR eight-plank open wagon or SECR six-wheel brake van you want, you have to place an order before October 1st, either from your local Rapido UK stockist or direct from us. You can check out the respective ranges - and order - by clicking on the buttons below:
October 1st is order deadline day for the OO gauge SR eight-plank opens. There are 31 eight-planks to choose from because we've tooled 9ft and 10ft wheelbase underframes, Morton and 'Freighter' brakes and disc and spoked wheels! We think that they're one of the best 'OO' gauge open wagons that money can buy.
There are ten six-wheel brake vans to choose from, covering two types: vans built with two verandas and single-ended vans that were later rebuilt with two verandas. Naturally, we've tooled the detail differences between the two types!
Latest exclusives

Did you know that there are now over 130 model railway shops and stores around the world who are Rapido UK stockists? Amazing, isn’t it? We still can't quite believe it!

You can check out the full list here.

There are a growing number of retailers who are commissioning exclusive models from us. Here are the latest:
Lydney Junction was an important interchange between the Great Western's South Wales main line and the Severn & Wye Railway's network that brought coal out of the Forest of Dean. One S&W branch reached Coleford, now home to Derails.
'Toad' from Derails

Derails has commissioned a limited run of Dia. AA20 ‘Toad’ brake vans in GWR grey livery with ‘Lydney Junction’ lettering. Limited to 100 pieces, you can order by clicking here.
Like BR’s ‘Terriers’, Southdown employed two Bedford OBs, JCD370 and JCD371, on services to Hayling Island due to weight restrictions on the bridge over Langstone Harbour.
Two OBs from TTC...

TTC Diecast has commissioned not one but two Bedford OBs from us: one in Southdown green and East Yorkshire Motor Services' SS7376. Both are limited to 200 pieces and they're available to order from here.
SS7376 has certainly travelled a bit. It was new to Mckinlay of Prestonpans in November 1949 but has worked on the Shetlands, in Ireland and even on the Isle of Man. It became part of the East Yorkshire Motor Services fleet in the late 1980s but was sold to Procters Coaches of Leeming Bar in 2019.
...plus a black VIX

TTC Diecast has also commissioned an exclusive VIX ferry van, finished as No. B787107 in this rather striking black livery. Limited to 200 pieces, you can order here.
There is an interest tale behind this vehicle for it was requisitioned as a stores vehicle for Rank Xerox’s exhibition train. The US photocopier manufacturer Xerox joined forces with the Rank Organisation to sell copiers to Eastern Bloc nations. Apparently, the train toured Eastern Europe between 1973 and 1976 but No. B787107 ended its days in store at Salisbury.
There's no mistaking the shape of that nose... 'N' gauge 'Pendolinos' come together in our factory. Most have been sold on pre-order but, if you're lucky, Revolution might have a few left.
Fresh batch of 'Pendos'

And finally, our friends at Revolution Trains have ordered another batch of

The order book for these models has closed but if you’re quick – and lucky! – you might be able to pick one up direct from Revolution. You can pop over to the Revolution website by clicking here… but hurry back because we’ve got loads more to share with you.
The fresh batch of 'Pendos' includes Avanti livery as well as Virgin's red and white 'swoosh' colour scheme, alongside more versions in tradition Virgin red and silver.
You might start to see the Rapido Trains UK stand at more events and exhibitions, starting with the daddy of them all, Warley Exhibition, in November 2022.
On the road again...

Rapido Trains UK is reaping the benefits of being a small, close-knit team but there are some downsides to being small, in particular that it limits the amount of events we can get to. This is why we're not at TINGS 2022.

However, we're adding 'show attendance' to our 'To Do' list. We're pleased to confirm that we'll be at Warley National Model Railway Exhibition (NEC, Birmingham, November 26-27th 2022) and Model Rail Scotland (Scottish Event Campus, February 24-26th 2023). We'll be adding to that list so keep an eye out here for updates.

In addition, as the Rapido team is spread out across the country, we might pop out to more 'local' shows. For example, Andy made a flying visit to Tonbridge MRC’s show back in May and CAD designer Linny is planning to attend Uckfield MRC’s show on October 15-16th.

If you see us out and about, do come and say ‘hello’. We’d be delighted to meet you!
Bill Schneider gets mobbed at Warley... Bill and Jason won't be at Warley 2022 but the rest of us will wear Dr Who T shirts and flares if it makes you feel any better.
BILL: I don't wear any of that rubbish!
JASON: Bill's fired.
This is what our 'OO' gauge Dynamometer Cars (UK935), 'OO' gauge SECR 10t vans (UK927) and 'OO gauge SECR two-plank ballast wagons (UK928) can see... if they were allowed out of their containers... and they had eyes. That's basically a long way of saying that they've been shipped and are now en route to Kent.
Full product report

On the back of last issue’s Wisbech & Upwell announcements, we received an e-mail from a disgruntled customer saying that it was all very well announcing new models but what was happening with the ‘N’ gauge class 28s…

Unfortunately, when a model is in production, there’s not much we can share other than more pictures of boxes full of bits… but we thought that we’d take the opportunity to bring you a full update on where all our projects are:

ANDY: There are buttons below for you to place any last minute orders.

RICHARD: Or you can buy through your local Rapido UK stockist.
Here's a painted body of the forthcoming 'Iron Mink' (the version with the wooden doors). The factory has told us that they plan to ship these next month, which is excellent news.
These are being produced at the same time as the 'Iron Mink' (not surprising because, as with the prototype, they share the same underframe). So, again, they should ship in October.
These are also making great progress and are also expected to ship next month. Here is
a freshly painted bauxite VIX bodyshell. It'll soon be off to be printed.
Finished VIX ferry van chassis waiting for their bodies. Just look at all that detail!
Here's a closer look at the VIX chassis. We can't wait to see these vans in the flesh.
Look at that! It's a completed Hunslet sample that was sent to the UK for assessment on September 8th. Sadly, due to the delays in getting decoders to the factory, the main batch will not be leaving for a while... but we're confident that they should be in stock by the end of the year.
Hot on the heels of the Hunslet are the 'N' gauge '28s'. Here we have a box of bodies that have just been trimmed and prepped for painting.
...and here is a close up of a base-coat body, next to a finished chassis. Again, decoder supply issues are causing some delays but we're keeping everything crossed that these little beauties should land in the UK by the end of the year.
Another BR blue D5701 goes through the tampo printing process. Small numbers of DC/Silent versions of this model are still available to order.
The factory has just started injecting parts for this project so there's not much to see at the moment. We promise to show you more when production is a bit more advanced.
The same is true with the OAA wagon. We'll show you more when there's more to see!
By the time you read this, we will have instructed the factory to start production on The Titfield Thunderbolt train packs, Lion (UK913), the GWR 'Loriot Y' (UK917) and the Diagram AA20 'Toad' brake van (UK918) as well as the '15XX' 0-6-0PT (UK904).

There really is no way to illustrate this stage of the process, as it's mostly the engineering team looking at their computers and designing priting plates... so here is a fine shot of the second '15XX' Engineering Prototype. Doesn't it look the business now that it has all the rivet detail on it?
The '15XX' is an impressive looking beast and we're very happy with how it has turned out. The rivet detail is very refined. We can't wait to see the finished article.
Click here or on the above image to see Lion in action. You won't believe your eyes!
STOP PRESS: We received a revised sample of Lion on Friday and 'Warranty' Dan took it for a spin our test track... and was blown away.

What can we say other than if you were disappointed by the haulage power of Liverpool & Manchester Railway locomotives from other manufacturers, you won't be with Lion!

Click here or on the above image to see it in action.
Now we move on to products that are still at the tooling/Engineering Prototype stage:
The first samples were posted to us on September 8th. When they arrive, we'll be able to share some proper images with you, rather than this 3D CAD render.
More exciting news: the first 'Jones Goods' Engineering Prototypes are due to ship at the end of October, which means that - baring any last minute delays - they'll be displayed on our stand at Warley. This is our 3D printed sample.
We know we've been promising detailed images of the three OB samples for a while but Richard has made a bit of an error with one of the versions and we're having to tweak one of the body moulds. But we promise you more images next month. Honest!
And now for the rest (or at least the rest of the range that we've made public!):
Design work on these wagons is complete and we're just waiting for a slot in the tool room before we start the tooling process. Finger's crossed that it won't take too long!
Design work is coming together nicely and it requires only minor correcting before it's ready for tooling. Richard just needs a few more hours in the day to find the time to make those corrections!
Our designers are still hard at work designing the Leyland National. However, in August, Richard popped over to The Transport Museum-Wythall to take some detail shots of its WMPTE National 2 DOC26V (thanks to Denis Chick for making the arrangements!).
And finally, we're still at a very early stage with this project and we're compiling a database of all the possible detail combinations. But expect a related mini-announcement soon!
Click here or on the above image to watch our 'N' gauge-themed behind-the-scenes look at Rapido UK.
Behind the scenes video

Normally at this point in the proceedings there would be a few paragraphs with some views, thoughts or analysis on various aspects of Rapido UK or the hobby in general.

This time we thought we’d bring you this content in the medium of –

ANDY: Interpretive dance?

RICHARD: I was going to say video but if you want to prance about in Spandex, be my guest.

A few months ago, we invited the members of the N Gauge Forum, some ‘N’ gauge Facebook groups plus our very own Facebook page to pose us some questions. Rather than compile the answers together in a long, rambling essay, Andy and 'Warranty' Dan decided to make this. You can click here or on the above image to watch.

Spoiler alert: it’s a little longer than a typical Rapido UK production.

ANDY: Yeah, sorry about that. I got a little carried away. But, if you like the format, please let us know and we can make some more.

RICHARD: It’s that or Andy starts dancing…
Thank you for making it to the end of another newsletter, especially if you watched the whole video…

ANDY: Oi!

RICHARD: We’ll be back to our normal end-of-the-month time slot next time, so we’ll see you in October. Blimey, by that time it’ll nearly be Hallowe’en.

Time certainly flies when you’re having fun and we’re having a great deal of that at Rapido!

Best wishes,

Richard

Richard Foster
Sales & Marketing Manager
Rapido Trains UK
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