Dear HO Scale Customers;

Rapido is proud to announce the New Ski Trains!

In 2000, the Rio Grande acquired three Amtrak F40PHs under a lease-to-buy deal, to power the famous Ski Train. These locomotives replaced the need for the PB HEP Car, as they supplied their own Head End Power to the train. Before their debut, they received the same paint to match the entire consist. F40PH 242 usually lead the three unit consist and received an “A” marking on the battery box door. 283 wore a “B” marking and 289 sported a “C”. The entire trainset looked superb in the classic Rio Grande colors!

 

• NEW! CANNON AND COMPANY LICENSED RADIATOR AND DYNAMIC BRAKE FANS
• THE FAMOUS THREE UNIT F40PH LOCOMOTIVE CONSIST THAT POWERED THE SKI TRAIN
• NOW EQUIPPED WITH THE MOPOWER CAPACITOR FOR UNINTERRUPTED DCC POWER

 

THE RAPIDO F40PH LOCOMOTIVES FEATURE:

• Correct body and era-specific details for each model
• Working head lights, backup light, strobe and marker lights
• Metal grab irons and side railings
• Accurate fuel tank profile and exhaust silencer
• Full cab interior painted in correct colors
• Working ditch lights
• See-through, etched-metal radiator grills and dynamic brake grills
• Extensive, separate underbody piping, conduit and wire grab irons
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
• Suggested minimum radius: 18”

 

 

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. EMD (Electro-Motive Division) F40PH Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

 

 

In the 1980s, the Rio Grande Ski Train utilized GP40 locomotives to power the train from Denver to Winter Park, Colorado. These GP40s looked sharp with a full passenger consist behind them as they rocketed up the side of the Rocky Mountains and through the famous Moffat Tunnel. To provide head end power to the cars, the GP40s teamed up with a converted PB B-unit that provided the HEP.

 

• ICONIC FOUR-AXLE LOCOMOTIVE POPULAR FROM THE 1960s THROUGH TODAY
• USED ON THE FAMOUS SKI TRAIN WITH THE PB STEAM HEATER AND HEP CAR
• CANNON AND COMPANY LICENSED RADIATOR AND DYNAMIC BRAKE FAN DESIGNS

 

THE RAPIDO GP40 LOCOMOTIVES FEATURE:

• 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 signal lights on front nose
• Correct fuel tank sizes per road number
• Road number-specific battery box doors
• Correct stepwells
• See-through, etched-metal steps
• Multiple truck sideframes tooled
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
• Suggested minimum radius: 18”

 

 

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

 

 

Prior to the modern era, railroad passenger cars were heated by steam. Many early diesel units assigned to passenger service were equipped with steam generators to provide heat for their trains.

As the Rio Grande went through the 1950s and 1960s, most of its steam generator equipped locomotives were nearing retirement. To provide heat for its remaining passenger trains, the D&RGW built several steam generator cars whose sole purpose was to provide the steam needed to heat the trains. The most famous of these were a pair of units that were rebuilt from Alco PB-1 locos in 1965, numbers 252 and 253. Number 252 quickly became a backup unit while 253 handled most of the assignments.

The Rio Grande opted to stay out of Amtrak, continuing to run its Rio Grande Zephyr until 1983. The steam generator cars provided heat for this train in the winter months. Since the Alco PA/PB series were so well loved by fans, the PB-based heater cars enjoyed a celebrity status. In 1980, the 253 was rebuilt with EMD Blomberg trucks, giving it a unique if somewhat ungainly appearance.

After 1983 the #253 was reassigned to the Rio Grande’s Ski Train. In 1987 it was again rebuilt, this time with Head End Power (HEP) generators to provide electricity needed to heat the Ski Train’s new lightweight cars. It carried the name “Moffat Tunnel” until being renamed for Rio Grande mechanic Joseph G. Harris in 1994. It stayed in service on the Ski Train until the arrival of assigned F40PH locos in 2001.

In 2006 #253 was sold to the Algoma Central, becoming AC #78. It is now used on the Algoma Central’s Agawa Canyon trains.

 

• THE REBUILT PB STEAM GENERATOR AND HEP CAR — A FIRST AS A PLASTIC MODEL!
• USED ON THE FAMOUS SKI TRAIN AS WELL AS OTHER SPECIAL PASSENGER TRAINS
• MULTIPLE SCHEMES COVERING THE STEAM HEAT AND LATER HEP ERAS

 

THE RAPIDO PB STEAM GENERATOR AND HEP CARS FEATURE:

• Two different body styles – steam and HEP
• Two different truck styles – Alco 3-axle and Blomberg 2-axle
• Metal knuckle couplers
• Accurate paint and lettering

 

 

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. Steam Generator and Heater Cars? Click here!

 

 

The famous Rio Grande Ski Train was a passenger service that transported skiers from downtown Denver to the slopes of the Rockies. From 1940 until 2009, the Ski Train ran between Denver Union Station and Winter Park, Colorado. Standing just outside of Moffat Tunnel's west portal was the city of Denver's fancy ski slopes, which they bought back in 1940. From the onset, the Ski train used heavyweight coaches and F-units. If no steam generator-equipped locomotive was on hand to supply steam to heat the cars, the DRGW trotted out one of their PB steam heater cars to do the job.

In 1988, with new railroad ownership, the Ski train was re-equipped with 14 former CN/VIA Rail "Tempo" coaches. These cars were built by Hawker Siddeley in 1968 for intercity services and consisted of coaches, Snack Coaches, Cafe-Bar-Lounges and Club cars. These cars came equipped with Head End Power (HEP) and therefore needed a locomotive with a HEP generator or a specialized generator car to supply power. For many years the Ski Train utilized those same PB Steam heater cars, now rebuilt with HEP generators, to supply power throughout the train. For 12 years, this train was seen operating with GP40s and other freight power the DRGW had on hand. In 2000, they purchased three ex-Amtrak F40PHs to power these cars.

 

Following the end of service on the Ski Train in 2009, the cars were stored until being purchased by Canadian National. The F40s and the Tempo cars were redeployed on their Agawa Canyon Tour Train, which was originally operated by the Algoma Central Railway until its purchase by CN.

 

• Four different types of cars: Coach, Snack Coach, Cafe-Bar-Lounge and Clubs
• Wear the classic D&RGW passenger car scheme, complete with Ski Train logos
• All 14 cars being offered — own the entire consist!

 

The Tempo Passenger Cars Feature:

• Full, multi-colour interior with individually installed seats
• Complete underbody with separate piping and conduit
• Track-powered “Easy-Peasy” interior lighting and working marker lights operated by magnetic wand (included)
• Capacitor installed for flicker-free lighting over dirty track
• Super-detailed, free-rolling trucks and wheelsets
• Detailed diaphragms with etched-metal end gates
• Separate grab irons installed at the factory
• Suggested minimum radius: 22"

 

 

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

 

 

Order Due Date: January 15, 2027

Anticipated Delivery Date: September 2027

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