Dear HO Scale Customers;

Rapido is excited to announce another run of GP40 locomotives in HO scale!

These GP40 locomotives pay tribute to over 50 years of mainline freight service by this venerable and ubiquitous General Motors product. From the first production order – built in 1965 for the New York Central – to modernized units serving second and third owners, there is sure to be a place on your layout for several of these hard-working Geeps.

As intermodal traffic gained popularity in the 1960s, the New York Central needed a fleet of high-horsepower diesels to move shipments quickly between coastal port cities and inland destinations. Already satisfied with EMD’s first-generation offerings, they placed an order for 50 new GP40s in 1965. Powered by a turbocharged 16-cylinder 645 prime mover making 3000 horsepower, these units quickly became commonplace on high-priority Flexi-Van trains. Numerous other railroads followed suit in acquiring fleets of GP40s, and they racked up millions of miles on Class 1 routes before many were sold off to regional and short lines. Many of these units have been rebuilt and continue to operate reliably to this day.

• ICONIC FOUR-AXLE LOCOMOTIVE POPULAR FROM THE 1960s THROUGH TODAY
• MANY POPULAR PAINT SCHEMES INCLUDING THE LATER PHASE II SERIES
• CANNON AND COMPANY LICENSED RADIATOR AND DYNAMIC BRAKE FAN DESIGNS

Photo Courtesy: Craig Walker

Photo Courtesy: Kaluza Mueller Collection

Photo Courtesy: Mike Fiser Sr

The Rapido Trains HO Scale GP40 Locomotive features:

• New! Tri-Color class lights (where appropriate)
• NEW! Early-production truck, handrail and Automatic Train Stop details for New York Central units
• The first GP40-3 with PTC antennas in plastic! (KCS variants)
• NEW! Extended range dynamic brakes (where appropriate)
• Equipped with licensed Cannon & Company 48” radiator and dynamic brake fans
• Rapido’s innovative dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
• Incredible underframe detail including traction motor cables, air filters and a silly number of separately applied parts
• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
• Operating ditch lights and beacons (where appropriate)
• Road-specific battery box doors
• Correct fuel tank sizes per road number
• Multiple styles of stepwells
• See-through, etched-metal steps
• Appropriate cab or nose headlights
• Multiple truck sideframes tooled
• Multiple dynamic-brake hatches
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
• Suggested minimun radius: 18”

Order Due Date: September 15, 2026

Anticipated Delivery Date: June 2027

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. EMD (Electro-Motive Division) GP-40 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!