Rapido UK Newsletter No.31
©2023 Rapido Trains Ltd
Dear Rapido Customer,
This month has been an interesting one, Andy is back from a well-deserved trip to the States and the rest of us managed to not let the business fall into ruin or set anything on fire in his absence, which is as much a relief to us as it is to him.

From what we can gather, he still managed to turn it into a busman’s holiday and squeeze in some train spotting while he was away, though this one probably went down rather well with his kids as it was in Disney World!
Possibly some of the hardest working steam locomotives in the world? Whilst high-thrill rides are not Andy's cup of tea he was quite happy to ride round in circles on the 3ft gauge trains at Disney World in Florida.
Dan and Corwin took a trip up north to the N Gauge Society show at York and had an absolute blast showing off all the new samples to you all (more on these in a bit), they assure us it wasn’t just an excuse to have a look around the museum.

Speaking of samples, we have got lots to show you this month!
Oh, and we’ve had a few new guys start with us, we will introduce them later.

Within a week of Andy’s return, parcels and production images just seemed to arrive on an almost daily basis (a rather pleasant surprise for all of us).
The following samples have arrived this month:

  • 'Lion' & 'Thunderbolt' production samples
  • Highland Railway 'Jones Goods'
  • GWR B-Set coaches
  • WR '15XX' 0-6-0PT
  • RCH 1907 Private Owner Wagons
  • N Gauge LNER Dynamometer Car 3D printed sample
  • N Gauge BR Class 44 3D printed sample
  • N Gauge SECR Freight Packs 3D printed sample
  • N Gauge BR Diagram 1/191 OAA Open Wagon 3D printed sample

Don’t panic, we aren’t going to leave you hanging, here they are!
'Lion' & 'Thunderbolt' Production Samples
Following a series of strange and gleeful noises from Andy’s office (and once he had composed himself) we realised he had unwrapped a rather unexpected parcel...

A surprise package containing the first painted production samples for both ‘Lion’ and Titfield Thunderbolt train pack.
Now in glorious colour!
Our friends at Modelu are continuing to develop our figure packs.
Inside and out our Titfield packs feature a high level of detail and decoration.
Now we’ve all had our grubby mitts on them and got all of the 'ooh's and 'ahh's out of our system, we’re happy to share some pictures with the rest of you.

We think they speak for themselves.
'Lion' in 1930s condition. Each variant of of 'Lion' and 'Thunderbolt' features different tooling and decoration.
'Lion' in its 1980s guise. This version features extra safety chains on the front and read, exposed tender springs and (hidden from view) an extra toolbox in the cab and pressure gauge mounted at the top of the firebox.
Production of both 'Lion' and 'Thunderbolt' is at the final assembly stage and we will have both of these with us this summer.
A pride of 'Lions'.
Highland Railway ‘Jones Goods’ 4-6-0
We were very excited when we received a running sample of the striking 00 Gauge ‘Jones Goods’, and as you can see it’s really starting to take shape.
With an open cab there is no way you can scrimp on detail. All the details are present and once they are painted we know it will look fantastic.
The running capabilities and subsequent pulling power are an important feature of this popular freight locomotive and it doesn’t disappoint. Watch out next month for a video showing just how well it runs.
GWR E140 B-Set Tooling Samples
The ever-popular Western Region branch line layout is the perfect home for the upcoming 00 Gauge GWR B-Set Coaches.
Found on quaint routes across the South West, West Midlands, and South Wales, the B-Set was regularly found coupled to a ‘Small Prairie’.

Modelled with beautifully detailed seating, luggage racks, a fully detailed guards compartment and working lights these models really will stand out.

They truly are the B(ee)'s knees. Don’t just take our word for it, check out how nice these tooling samples are!
Open windows on a model carriage? We thought we would try something different.
We will also be providing an interesting customisable feature with this coach. Inside the box will be some extra glazing pieces with the droplight windows in the open position. With a few minutes work, the factory fitted glazing can be pressed out and the 'window down' glazing fitted - perfect for those layouts set in the hazy summer sunshine.
Correct details are fitted to each end of the vehicles - including short buffers and safety chains on the inner ends.
The full detailed interior is easily accessible via the clip-on roof making it easy to fit passengers.
WR '15XX' 0-6-0PT
Last month’s running sample load test of the 15XX received such a positive response, we wanted to get the images of the next stage of production in your hands as soon as possible.

Progress has been somewhat faster than expected and out of nowhere a set of photos showing the painted bodywork components have been sent to us from the factory. How smart do they look?
No.1501 in fully lined livery as seen on the Severn Valley Railway.
A red pannier - as seen in NCB days at Coventry Colliery.
We can't forget our spoof livery. Although not carried in real life, we think it rather suits the model!
Whilst it's nice to see the larger parts coming together, it's also nice to see the small details. This is the inside of the cab shutters - complete with (legible) notice to warn crews not to stick their heads out!
1907 Private Owner Wagons
We only announced these a few months ago, so were very pleased to receive a tooling sample of one already. We are delighted with how they look.
As usual the underframe of the wagons are full of detail including different brake arrangements, axleboxes, buffers and v-hangers.
With thirty-four designs available direct from us and an ever-growing list of liveries from various independent retailers as exclusives, you have a huge number of options to pick from. To see the full selection click HERE.
The 5-plank opens feature side doors only...
...whilst the 7-plank features both side and end doors.
Don’t forget - if you are keen to get your own 1907 private owner wagon commission you can find out more HERE.
Not forgetting the small stuff!
Dan and Corwin attended the N Gauge Society show at the NRM a few weeks ago, and knowing how many cool things we had in the pipeline they didn’t want to show up empty-handed.

Our friends at Modelu worked tirelessly to get many of the upcoming models 3D printed for visitors to feast their eyes on.

Don’t worry if you weren’t able to make it, here are a few pictures from the show.
Even from this early prototype, you can see just how detailed and pretty the LNER Dynamometer Car will be in N Gauge. Our 00 Gauge version has proven very popular, so we look forward to hearing what you think of its smaller cousin.
Our upcoming BR Class 44 3D printed (static) sample went on a little jaunt over the weekend and was seen on 'James Street'. Not only did the Class 44 create interest - the resident pair of class 28's and a full train of Conflat P wagons turned a few heads.
Another of our popular 00 ranges that will be receiving the miniaturisation to N Gauge is the SECR Freight Packs. These prints highlight how detailed and accurate even the most conventional rolling stock can be in N Gauge. These great value sets are the perfect addition to many a Southern Region N Gauge layout, and we look forward to being able to compare them with their larger-scale relatives as their development progresses.
Much like its 00 Gauge counterpart, the N Gauge BR Diagram 1/191 OAA Open Wagon is progressing nicely (which should please those who have a more modern preference for rolling stock).
If you took the time to come and speak to us at the N Gauge Society show at the NRM we would like to thank you for all your time, feedback, and suggestions.

We are glad you love the samples and are looking forward to their release.
Order Book Updates
We have two order books closing at midnight on Monday 29th of May!
First up is our 'Not-Quite-Mink' range. Based on the GWR 'Iron Mink' design many of the pre-grouping companies built their own versions. Why not add a colourful livery to your fleet?
The second order book closing is for our 'Inspired by Titfield' wagon pack. Whilst not seen in the film these wagons follow the theme of the film and will accompany our forthcoming Titfield Thunderbolt train packs perfectly. Whilst the order book is closing now the models will not be delivered until our 1907 PO wagons are produced later in the year.
If you want to add these to your collection, we highly recommend getting your order in ASAP, either direct from us or from any Official Retailer.
Production & Shipping Updates
Well, the good news is that a number of products are on their way to the UK. By the time you read this, the SECR 6-wheel brake vans should have arrived and been shipped to retailers and customers, whilst our SR 8-planks should be arriving into a UK port around the same time.

The GWR 'Loriot Y' and AA20 'Toad' brake vans will be at sea and hopefully only a few weeks behind the SR opens. All very exciting!
Hot off the press are images of our LMS D1666 Open Wagons. These are currently going through the final stages of decoration at the factory before final assembly. Progress should be swift and we hope to deliver these to customers during the summer. 
The majority of the ‘VIX’ Ferry Vans are out in the wild and already with customers who are singing their praises and thoroughly enjoying them.

As many of you know we had to rectify two specific ‘VIX’ SKUs due to an issue. We are pleased to say that this has been fully resolved and they are en route back to us. If you’re really lucky it may already be with you by the time this newsletter hits your inbox.
Unfortunately, we had a minor hitch with the 00 Gauge OAA Open Wagons, so they have been delayed a tad and missed their original intended delivery date.

We have been able to rectify this and are pleased to say that the wagons have moved to the final assembly stage. We hope to have more news on the OAAs next month for you!
One for the North American fans - an exclusive 'Angus' van in N scale!
Between 1972 and 1981, Canadian Pacific’s Angus Shops in Montreal built over 300 modern, wide-vision cabooses (cabeese?) or 'vans' and thus gained the nickname 'Angus Vans'.

One of these, CP 434677, has the distinction of being preserved in the UK at the Mangapps Railway museum in Essex, regularly operating with British rolling stock and locomotives.

With Rapido Trains Inc producing these fabulous vehicles in N scale, we took the opportunity to have a very small batch of CP 43467 produced as an exclusive for us! Get your order in quick - only 50 are being produced!
All change at Rapido Trains UK
We have had a little shunt around and even had some new starters this month at Rapido Trains UK.

We would like to congratulate Andy and Steve on their new roles, Andy takes the helm as General Manager and Steve as Operations Manager. They lead us forward into the next exciting era of Rapido Trains UK.

We also have some fresh blood. For the sake of ease, we have chosen to hire two new people called Chris, just so we don’t need to remember two different names.
Chris Payne joins us as our new Sales Executive and Copywriter, he’ll be covering your newsletters (yes that does mean he’s writing this bit in the 3rd person) and any sales queries you may have.

As an avid South Eastern and Chatham Railway fan and all things Southern region, we think he’s going to fit in nicely here. Though we aren’t entirely sure if him being able to pester us for a Class O1 in person is a good thing or not!
Chris Masters joins us as our new Warehouse Operative and Warranty Assistant.

Chris isn’t technically a new face at Rapido, he’s helped out on various projects over the years and is a neighbour of Andy and Steve’s. In his free time, he’s building a 00 layout and adds whatever he likes the look of, we think being surrounded by our stock all the time may be detrimental to his bank balance. We’re proud to make his appointment official, welcome aboard Chris!
Caught in the act! Sneaking off with a box of newly delivered SECR 6-wheeled Brake vans, it appears Chris P has picked the wrong weapon for the job. Thankfully Chris M and Ernie are on hand, making sure all the brake van orders are accounted for. 
At the NGS York Show there were a number of our Class 28s and Conflats in operation. We couldn't resist shooting a short film of them operating on the fantastic 'James St'.
Thought of the month
We all love our model railways - at the end of the day that's why we are involved in the hobby. Sometimes however, the dark side in modellers comes out when constructive criticism goes too far. In this months thought of the Month Jason discusses what happens when things get to much...
— Reproduced from March 2023 Railroad Model Craftsman. ©2023 White River Productions. Used with permission. To subscribe to RMC, click here. Click here to see the rest of the March issue, click here

Back in the February 2022 (Diverging Points, Railroad Model Craftsman) issue I discussed the nastiness of some of the emails that Rapido — and other model train manufacturers — occasionally receive from customers. I encouraged readers who get all steamed up over a perceived mistake on a model to just wait five minutes before sending that email... a little civility and politeness go a long way. We’re always open to constructive criticism. Sometimes we can fix the problem, and other times we can’t. But we will always do our best.

These days, we often don’t hear about model problems from emails. Often, we only hear about a problem because someone posted it on a discussion forum and it has generated pages and pages of online rage. Have you noticed how much anger there is out there these days? I think the pandemic has had a psychological impact on the human species that will take our social scientists years to unpack. We’ve all got our own stories of encounters with this new rage. Nowhere is this rage seemingly more present than on the internet.
When I started Rapido, there were plenty of model train discussion forums on the internet. We had our fair share of “flame wars” and arguments back then, but overall the conversation was not nearly as negative as it is today. Recently I asked my employees not to participate in some of the discussion forums because the atmosphere was so toxic. (This, in turn, seemed to up the rage because we were no longer responding on these forums.)

The criticisms routinely devolve into personal attacks, and this action has real-world impacts. Several Rapido employees have told me of serious anxiety, and even depression, brought on by the unending online criticism. One employee expressed concern for his personal safety. Someone from a model train forum even called the Canadian National police to “tell on” Jordan and me after we posted a photo of us near (not on) the tracks.

If you’ve participated in personal attacks on model train industry employees online, I have some questions for you. What is your end goal? Is it your desire to be correct, to show that you know more about model trains than we do? Is it to show that you know how to run a business better than we do? When you talk to people in person rather than online, do you shout in their faces? Do you call them names? Do you threaten them? And do you feel you have scored some sort of victory if you successfully get them arrested while railfanning? If it seems like I am being overly emotional in this column, it’s because the attacks really hurt. They hurt me and they hurt my team.

Model railroading is a tiny industry in North America. I can safely say that all model train product designers are railfans and model railroaders themselves. When there is a mistake on a model, we did not put it there on purpose. It is easy to sit at a keyboard, blow up a photo of a model to 10 times its actual size, and then list everything that is wrong with it and attack the designer. It is less easy to spend months or years designing a model and doing your best to make a product of which you can feel proud.
I look at the Alco PA and PB locomotives that Bill Schneider spent two years designing, and I am filled with pride. The amount of care and attention that Bill put into that model, the dozens of hours of meetings, the hundreds of hours of design work — it all paid off. I think it’s a gorgeous product and, based on how they’ve sold, a lot of customers agree. However, read the online discussion forums and you’d be forgiven for thinking that Bill drew a vaguely PA-shaped blob on a napkin, sent it to the factory, and let them give it their best shot.

I’ve written before in this (Diverging Points, Railroad Model Craftsman) column that the hobby of model railroading should bring you joy. Apart from spending time with my family and friends, the thing in my life that gives me the most joy is working on my layout. I imagine that is the same with most of you. Our hobby brings light into our darkest days. It is rejuvenating. It is a solace from the heartache and the pain that we all face at different times in our lives.

I cannot see how sitting at a computer and attacking model train manufacturers and their employees can bring anyone joy. Take that negative energy and transform it into something positive. Start building a layout. Join a club and run some trains. Head trackside with a couple of friends and photograph some main line action. Do something that brings you joy. Please.

(Cue the rage.)
Well, that’s it for another month.

We hope there’s something for you to get you excited about amongst those sample images and the news of our forthcoming deliveries - we are certainly excited!

Best wishes,

The Rapido Trains UK Team
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