Dear HO Scale Customers;

Rapido Trains Inc. has added more of the Budd RDC 1 & 2 Locomotives!

VIA Rail Canada — (2010s Rebuild)

 

Budd RDC-9 Locomotive - Canadian National (Noodle)

Budd RDC-1 Locomotive - Canadian National (CN) #1501

In 2008, Canadian National rebuilt one of their former RDC-1 cars into a Track Geometry Vehicle. Originally built in 1958 as DC-108, it served CN until it was sold to VIA in 1978. Many years later it would be purchased back by CN and undergo an extensive rebuild to analyze their rail network, which consists of over 20,000 rail miles across Canada and the United States. CN 1501 can be seen just about anywhere CN runs and has even been seen on regional railroads!

 

THE RAPIDO CN 1501 FEATURES:

• Rapido’s acclaimed “stainless steel” finish

• Correct CN-rebuilt sides and ends

• Working LED headlights and ditch lights

• Cast truck sideframes

• Separate grab irons and front door chains

• Separate grab irons and side mirrors

• Etched-metal roof grills and fan covers

• Lit number boards and marker lights

• Detroit or Cummins engine sounds (as appropriate)

• Correct P5 horn and E-bel

 

Metro-North — RDC-1 (Red/White Stripes / Blue Band)

Generic

• Prototypically accurate versions including the RDC-9 - a first!

• Loads of roadname-specific details

• Accurate dimensions

• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory

• Accurate Trucks by version

• Full underbody detail

• Lit numberboards and headlights

• Rapido’s proven drive system

• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound options

• Macdonald Cartier magnetic couplers installed at the correct height

 

Budd RDC-1 Locomotive - Southern Pacific #SP-10

In October, 1960, SP-10 was involved in a grade crossing accident. The cab at the damaged end was replaced with a baggage section. In subsequent years, different style “walkover” seats were added in the baggage area. This is the first time the post-1960 accident rebuild has been offered.

 

Details include:

• Prototypically correct rebuilt  “blind” end

• Accurate Motorola antenna

• Accurate Nathan Type P Airchime horns

• Two types of seat styles to match prototype

• SP-style roof-mounted numberboard

• Lit numberboards and headlights

• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory

• Full underbody detail

• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound options

• Macdonald Cartier magnetic couplers installed at the correct height

 

Budd RDC-1 + RDC-2 Locomotive - Santa Fe (ATSF) DC-191 & DC-192

ATSF DC-191 & DC-192

• Offered as the prototype operated… as a pair!

• Accurate early painting & lettering, including unusual square emblem in Warbonnet red & yellow 

• Lit numberboards and headlights

• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory

• Full underbody detail

• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound options

• Macdonald Cartier magnetic couplers installed at the correct height

 

 

The Budd RDC-9 was introduced in 1956 for the Boston & Maine as a "powered trailer", designed for use with two regular RDCs in a three car consist. It was a motorized coach powered by a single motor and containing seating for 94 passengers. Lacking control cabs or end windows, it was not designed for independent operation but was controlled by controls in a coupled RDC.

Many Budd RDCs would linger on into commuter services for various commuter agencies in the northeast. Some of these commuter operations would bundle the RDCs in sets of four or more cars, creating good-sized consists. (Or eleven for CP!) Other roads would operate them in pairs or even singles on lighter branchline routes.

Do you run freight operations and question why you would need any RDCs? Well we should mention that MOST of these commuter operations ran over major freight routes. In fact, many of these runs would tie up freight operations daily in the AM and PM rush hours. You too can recreate dispatcher frustrations by running a set of commuter RDCs right out in front of a waiting freight train.

 

The Rapido Trains HO scale RDC locomotive Features:

• Accurately scaled from prototype blueprints

• Roadname-specific details including bell position, single or double rear headlights, with or without battery boxes behind cab, horns, CN or BCOL style ditch lights and more!

• An insane level detail with air filters, many separate pipes and moulded traction motor cabling and air/control pipe runs.

• Optional split cooling radiator for CN and BC versions. (Polybag Kit)

• Heavy, die-cast chassis with a powerful motor and dual flywheels

• Operating headlights, ditch lights and rear lights

• Operating factory-installed rock lights on BCR locomotives

• Fully operational class lights

• Operating step lights and track inspection lights

• Newly tooled & accurate cab interior

• Newly tooled fuel tank and trucks

• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory

• DC/Silent (DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound (ESU LokSound) with twin sugar cube speakers

• Factory-installed couplers mounted at the correct height

 

Mo-Power by Rapido - Uninterrupted Locomotive Power

Ever experience a loss of power? Experience it no more with the all-new "Mo-Power" capacitor.

Designed by Rapido with the guidance of ESU LokSound, this handy electrical component, which is integrated with the main PCB board, ensures you run uninterrupted from a momentary loss of track power. It will provide anywhere from two to five seconds of juice, depending on the Rapido locomotive.

 

 

Order Due Date: May 15, 2025

 

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. Passenger Cars & Trains? Click here!

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