News & Reviews News Six new HO models from Rapido Trains

Six new HO models from Rapido Trains

By Cody Grivno | October 16, 2023

New diesels, passenger cars, and freight cars unveiled at dealer open house in Essex, Conn.

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Color photo of room with display tables and people walking around.
Representatives from Rapido Trains talk about new models at a dealer open house event in Essex, Conn. Six new HO models from Rapido Trains were announced at the event. David Popp photos

Rapido Trains hosted a dealer open house at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Essex, Conn. During the event, the manufacturer unveiled several new HO scale products. Here’s a rundown of some of the items announced.

Locomotives

Color photo of banner with line art for HO scale diesel locomotive models.
Rapido Trains made a big splash when it announced the Electro-Motive Division SD7, SD9, and SD10 diesel locomotives in multiple paint schemes and body styles.

Electro-Motive Division SD7, SD9, and SD10 diesel locomotives were among the six new HO models announced by Rapido Trains. The SD7 will be available decorated for Bessemer & Lake Erie, Denver & Rio Grande Western (“Bumble Bee” scheme), EMD Demonstrator, and Southern Pacific (black widow scheme with orange lettering and traditional black widow).

Paint schemes on the SD9 will include Burlington Northern; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (red with white and yellow frames); and Chicago & North Western (low short hood).

The SD10 will be offered in Milwaukee Road paint. Conditional releases on the Milwaukee Road rebuild are Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern and Soo Line (“bandit” scheme).

The models will feature railroad-specific details and weights in the fuel tanks. Direct-current models will be priced at $239.95. Sound-equipped models will sell for $349.95.

Freight cars

Color photo of banner with line art for HO scale boxcar models.
This banner shows all of the paint schemes and body variations Rapido Trains will be offering on its newly tooled 1937 Association of American Railroads boxcar. The model will be offered as a single car and in three- and six-packs.

A 1937 Association of American Railroads boxcar was one of three transition-era freight cars announced at the dealer open house. Rapido will be tooling four ends, three roofs and sides, four ladder sets, two doors, and more for the model.

Boxcars with square corner ends will be decorated for Chesapeake & Ohio, Soo Line, Southern Ry., Southern Pacific, and Western Pacific. Models with round corner ends will be painted for Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Erie; Minneapolis & St. Louis; Monon; New York, New Haven & Hartford; Nickel Plate Road; New York Central; and Seaboard Air Line.

Canadian National cars will be available with NSC-2 ends, and Canadian Pacific models will have CP 5/5 ends.

Color photo showing artwork for HO scale covered hoppers.
The Enterprise covered hopper was another new freight car model unveiled by Rapido. The ready-to-run car will be offered with railroad-specific details.

Enterprise covered hoppers will also be joining the Rapido HO scale lineup. Paint schemes will include Canadian National, Canada Southern, GFCX, MGSX, New York Central, and Penn Central.

Banner with artwork and CAD renders of HO scale four-bay hopper.
Pennsylvania RR fans were excited to learn about the class H21A and H21E four-bay hoppers from Rapido. The newly tooled cars will be offered in multiple paint schemes.

Wrapping up the freight car announcements were Pennsylvania RR class H21A and H21E four-bay hoppers. Class H21A versions will include circle keystone (K brakes), 1930+; circle keystone (AB brakes), 1935+; circle keystone and “Coal Goes to War” slogan, 1941+; shadow keystone, 1954+; and black with plain keystone, 1961+. H21E variations include circle keystone, 1948+, shadow keystone, 1954+, and black with plain keystone, 1961+

All three freight cars will be priced at $54.95 (single), $164.85 (three-pack), and $329.70 (six-pack).

Passenger equipment

Banner with line art and CAD rendering of HO scale lightweight passenger car.
Northern Pacific’s Day-Nite coaches were also announced at the Rapido event. The car is a conditional release, meaning minimum order quantities must be met for the car to be produced.

A Northern Pacific Day-Nite lightweight coach caught the attention of passenger modelers. The model is a conditional release, meaning minimum order quantities must be met for the car to be produced. Paint schemes will include NP (Loewy and Steamline schemes) and NP/Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (Loewy scheme). The car has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $129.95. Orders placed before Jan. 15, 2024 will get a 5% pre-order discount.

Banner with prototype photo and artwork for HO scale Comet commuter cars.
Rapido Trains is offering its HO scale Comet commuter cars in multiple paint schemes. The models are scheduled for release this year.

Comet commuter cars, scheduled for release this year, will be available decorated for Connecticut Department of Transportation (delivery and late schemes), Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (delivery scheme), Maryland Area Rail Commuter, Metro North Commuter RR, Metropolitan Transport Agency (Montreal, late scheme), and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (late scheme). Painted but unlettered models will also be available.

 

2 thoughts on “Six new HO models from Rapido Trains

  1. Yes, disappointed that Rapido shut out N scalers this go round. Was hoping there would be an EP5 McGuinness “Jet” in N scale in the pipeline, to go with our FL9s. Also would like to see more N Comet cars. That they omitted NJT in the array of roadnames
    for the HO Comets does not bode well for seeing NJT again, which is too bad. I want to be able to root for them but I fear the HO side has won full control over development. I hope that is not true. Broadway Limited Imports at least usually, eventually, does an N scale version of their HO releases, at least better than most manufacturers. Was surprised and relieved that they are doing a new release of the PRR M1s.

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