Rapido Trains HO GE Dash 8-40CM

Color photo of red, white, and blue HO diesel on scenic base. — The Rapido Trains HO GE Dash 8-40CM is decorated for BC Rail; Canadian National; and Quebec, North Shore & Labrador in two to six road numbers per scheme. The model is based on a General Electric prototype from the early 1990s. *Cody Grivno photos*

The General Electric Dash 8-40CM diesel locomotive is back in the Rapido Trains product lineup. The redesigned six-axle road locomotive features a newly tooled fuel tank, cab interior, and trucks; railroad-specific details; and full underbody details.

Prototype history

Color photo of prototype diesel locomotive painted red, white, and blue — BC Rail No. 4611 is on the point of a southbound Canadian National freight at Ackerville, Wis., on April 19, 2015. The Dash 8-40CM was built by General Electric in 1990.

General Electric (GE) produced the Dash 8-40CM from February 1990 through March 1994. During the course of the production run, 84 units were built. Canadian National had the largest fleet with 55 units, followed by BC Rail with 26 and Quebec, North Shore & Labrador with three.

The sample we received is decorated as BC Rail No. 4626, part of the railroad’s 4601 through 4626 series. BC Rail placed two orders for the Dash 8-40CM. Units 4601 through 4622 were built in 1990. Three years later, engines 4623 through 4626 rolled off the assembly line at GE’s plant in Erie, Pa.

Model features

Color photo showing front end of HO scale diesel locomotive — Some of the details on the Rapido Trains HO GE Dash 8-40CM include factory-printed number boards; separate, factory-applied windshield wipers; and a cast-metal steel bell. The locomotive also features a newly tooled cab interior.

The Rapido model uses plastic and die-cast metal construction. As with other diesels from the manufacturer, the BC Rail unit is loaded with details. The front of the engine has a factory-applied snowplow, an anti-climber pilot, and wire grab irons. Both pilots have three-cluster m.u. hoses and uncoupling levers; the rear pilot also has spare coupler knuckles.

Color photo showing rear of HO scale cowl-bodied diesel locomotive — The rear of the locomotive has a stepwell with the step edges picked in yellow, an m.u. receptacle on top of the anticlimber, and a painted gasket around the porthole window on the door. Following prototype practice, the six-axle road unit has fire extinguisher and stretcher symbols on the door.

The North American cab has separate sand filler hatches, windshield wipers, grab irons, and a cast-metal bell. Behind the flush-fitting window glazing is a detailed cab interior. The cab roof features two antennas.

Like the prototype, the BC Rail model has lots of lights. The headlights are on the nose. Above the number boards are tri-color class lights. The rock (or corner) lights are on the front pilot; the ditch lights are atop the m.u. stands.

The Dash 8-40CM is the first model we’ve received that’s equipped with Mo-Power, a capacitor-based system that stores energy and allows the model to operate over dirty or dead rail. The capacitors are located over the rear truck.

Measuring up

Color photo showing conductor’s side of cab on diesel locomotive. — The GE Dash 8-40CM, like other Canadian cowl-bodied diesels, features the signature Draper taper behind the cab. William L. Draper, former Canadian National assistant chief of motive power, designed the carbody feature to improve rear visibility.

Our sample is painted in BC Rail’s red, white, and blue scheme. The separation lines between colors are mostly crisp. The placement of the graphics follows prototype images. The 4626 had its steel bell replaced with an electronic bell prior to CN leasing the railroad’s freight operations in 2004. The yellow sill stripes and steps were added by CN.

The sample we received has an ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder. I tested the model at the workbench with an NCE Power Cab. At step 1, the six-axle road unit crawled at less than 1 scale mph. Quite impressive! At step 28, the model achieved a top speed of 75 scale mph. The full-size BC Rail Dash 8-40CM diesels had a maximum speed of 65 mph. The model has a drawbar pull of 3.7 ounces, equivalent to 52 free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track.

Color photo showing HO scale locomotive mechanism. — A motor with dual flywheels is centered in the middle of the heavy, die-cast metal chassis on the Rapido Trains HO GE Dash 8-40CM. The ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder is attached to the motherboard above the motor. The Mo-Power capacitors are at the back of the motherboard over the rear truck.

Prototype drawings of the GE Dash 8-40CM were published in the September 1995 issue of Model Railroader magazine. The majority of the dimensions match or closely follow published data. The locomotive’s ride height is around 3 scale inches too high.

Though many GE Dash 8-40CM diesels started their career north of the border, they migrated south as CN’s rail network expanded into the United States. The Rapido Trains cowl-bodied model would add some visual interest to any HO diesel fleet set between 1990 and today.