Alco PA-1 and PB-1 diesel locomotives from Rapido Trains are arriving on hobby shop shelves now. An HO scale PA-1 decorated for the New York, New Haven & Hartford paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he points out features on the six-axle unit, highlights some of the sound and light effects, and runs the locomotive with previously released Rapido lightweight passenger equipment decorated for the New Haven.
Features on the Alco PA-1 and PB-1 diesel locomotives include road-name-specific details; underbody piping and conduit; separate, factory-installed grab irons and handrails; etched-metal grills as appropriate; illuminated control stands and cab interior; and an operating Gyralite or red Mars light as appropriate. The B units in the PA-1 and PB-1 sets are powered.
Paint schemes include New York, New Haven & Hartford (green and gold, three PA-1s); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (warbonnet, three PA-1s and two PA-1 and PB-1 sets); American Freedom Train (one PA-1); Delaware & Hudson (warbonnet, three PA-1s); Denver & Rio Grande Western (yellow-and-silver five-stripe scheme, two PA-1s and two PA-1 and PB-1 sets); Lehigh Valley (red, three PA-1s); Nickel Plate Road (blue and silver, three PA-1s); New York Central (lightning stripe, three PA-1s and two PA-1 and PB-1 sets); Pennsylvania RR (Tuscan five stripe scheme, three PA-1s and two PA-1 and PB-1 sets); and Southern Pacific (one PA-1 and one PA-1 and PB-1 set [Daylight scheme] and two PA-1s and two PA-1 and PB-1 sets [scarlet and gray]).
The pricing structure for the Alco PA-1 and PB-1 diesel locomotives from Rapido Trains is as follows: Direct-current models – PA-1, $225; PA-1 and PB-1 set, $425. With dual-mode sound decoder – PA-1, $335; PA-1 and PB-1 set, $625.
Trains.com Product Review videos showcase the latest new items from manufacturers of products in Z, N, HO, S, O, and large scales. In the videos, you can watch locomotives in action, take a close-up look at details on freight cars, see kit components, and much more.
If you are a manufacturer and have products you would like reviewed, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cgrivno@kalmbach.com for more information.