Samples of the newly tooled Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B diesel locomotive recently arrived at the Model Railroader offices. Join senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out features on the road units, demonstrates some of the sound and light functions, and operates a short freight train.
We received samples decorated for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (pinstripe scheme, low short hood) and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray, high short hood). Additional paint schemes on the low short hood version include Great Northern (simplified scheme); Erie Lackawanna (late gray, maroon, and yellow scheme); New York, New Haven & Hartford (black, orange, and white); and Penn Central (black, with and without herald). St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco, Mandarin Orange, and white) and General Electric (red and white, two paint schemes) are the other road names on models with a high short hood.
The Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B features an injection-molded plastic body and die-cast metal chassis. Features include plastic handrails and stanchions; working step lights on low-short hood models; and numerous railroad-specific details, including the exhaust stack, battery box doors on engineer’s side, air cleaner boxes, fuel tank, and air tanks. Both versions have an illuminated, detailed cab interior with a lighted control stand.
Direct-current models are priced at $239.95. Versions with a dual-mode ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder sell for $349.95.
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.
