Dear HO Scale Customers;

Rapido Trains Inc. is excited to add more of the General Electric (GE) P32AC-DM Diesel Locomotives with the New America 250 Scheme

In 1976, America celebrated its 200th birthday as an independent nation. Across the country, all sorts of celebrations were held, ranging from local parades to large displays of fireworks, festivals and commemorative events. The United States railways even joined in by painting their equipment into colorful tribute schemes. Many of these schemes featured the American flag, eagles, stars and stripes, dedications to key people in American history and of course the appearance of 1776 or 1976 incorporated into the roadnumber or design.

The American Freedom Train was also created to honor America’s rich history. This train would tour the country in 1975 and 1976. All sorts of important historical artifacts would be housed on this train that featured 10 display cars, pulled by an assortment of steam locomotives also painted to match the red, white and blue design of the cars.

To help celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Rapido is bringing back some of the famous models and paint schemes of the Bicentennial as well as adding Quincentennial schemes as they are released by the railroads in the upcoming year. Please keep checking back for more models that will be added to the ever growing list of Bicentennial models Rapido will release!

 

 

Metro-North-specific features:

• Unique antenna array
• Nose with hatch
• Long air tanks
• Third rail shoes engaged

 

Rapido has also Updated the Pictures for Previously released General Electric (GE) P32AC-DM Diesel Locomotives

Amtrak-specific features:

• Unique antenna array
• Original and retrofitted noses
• Short air tanks
• Third rail shoes disengaged/lifted

 

Dual-powered locomotives are nothing new to New York commuter operations. Since the early 1900s, the main concern was diesel emissions inside the tunnels that led to Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station. Metro-North and Amtrak were looking to replace their aging fleet of EMD FL9s with a modern dual-mode diesel. Enter the GE P32AC-DM “Genesis” Series II locomotive in the late 1990s, which saw Amtrak order 18 of these units. The P32AC-DM designation may be a mouthful, but it is an acronym for: Passenger, 3,200 horsepower, Alternating Current, Dual-Mode. The P32AC-DM is the dual-mode cousin to the similar diesel-only P40 and P42DC passenger locomotives.

The P32AC-DMs still make their living on Empire Service out of Penn Station to Albany-Rensselear, as well as services to Toronto and Montreal. These locomotives have worn a number of paint schemes throughout their careers: Phase III, Phase IV, Phase V and the current Phase III Empire Service. One of the most notable spotting features of the current day fleet are the emergency nose doors. These were applied around 2018, when Amtrak temporarily rerouted services to Grand Central Terminal during work inside of Penn Station.

 

• BRAND NEW, NEVER PRODUCED BEFORE AS A PLASTIC MODEL!
• A STAPLE OF AMTRAK OPERATIONS IN THE EAST – AS WELL AS WESTERN NY AND CANADA
• THE ICONIC PHASE III AND EMPIRE SERVICE PHASE – A GREAT DUO!

THE RAPIDO P32AC-DM LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Newly tooled from blueprints and measurements
• Many unique dual-mode underbody components
• Krupp - MaK High Speed Bolsterless Truck with third rail shoe detail
• Piping detail never seen before on a Genesis model
• ATC/Cab signal under-pilot detail (ACSES box)
• P32AC-DM rounded grille over rear radiator
• Nose and rear HEP plugs
• Operating headlight, ditchlights, and marker lights
• Step lights
• Separately applied wire grabs
• Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound
• ESU LokSound V5 Decoder

 

Ever rexperience a loss of power? Experience it no more with the all-new "MoPower" 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: Available Now

Anticipated Delivery Date: April 2027

 

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. General Electric P32AC Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

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