Rapido Trains
has
announced plans to pro-
duce the upgraded 1100
series CN version of the
popular GMD-1 diesel
locomotive. In the early
1980s, when CN began closing down many of the branch lines
for which the GMD-1 had been specifically designed, officials
decided to rebuild the reliable locomotives for general service.
Visible changes included new 2000-gallon fuel tanks, upgraded
steps and sanding equipment, and four-axle Flexicoil trucks sal-
vaged from retired GP9s. The rebuild yielded 46 1100-series
units, with some continuing in service as late as 2006. Rapido’s
HO scale 1100-series GMD-1 model will have road number-
specific paint and lettering including safety striping; operating
number boards, headlights, and class lights; diecast chassis (it
weighs more than a pound); and full cab interior oriented the
correct way (short hood forward for number 1179). Ready-to-
run locomotives will be available for standard DC operation
as well as for DC/DCC/Sound with authentic GMD-1 sounds
recorded from #1118 on the Alberta Prairie Railway. The MSRP
will be $225.00 (DC) and $325.00 (DCC/Sound). The order
deadline is March 17, 2015 and delivery is expected in sum-
mer/fall 2015.
In other news, Rapido and the
New Haven Railroad Historical
and Technical Association
) will jointly produce
New Haven’s 8600 series postwar Pullman Standard coaches
in HO scale. The NHRH&TA will financially back the project and
Rapido will build the models. The cars are similar to the previ-
ously released Rapido Osgood-Bradley New Haven coaches,
but differ in having single-pane windows and stainless steel
News column - 11
sides. In their post-1955 iteration, the New Haven cars were
decorated with red-orange window bands that contrasted
attractively with the stainless steel body. Delivery and price
information are pending.
Pacific Western Rail
System
) is tak-
ing reservations for a lim-
ited run of HO scale
GMD-1 locomotives dec-
orated for SRY-Southern
Railway of British
Columbia. SRY acquired the rebuilt diesels from Canadian
National. The HO scale ready-to-run models are being pro-
duced for PWRS by Rapido Trains. See notes on the rebuilds in
the Rapido report.
Decorating schemes will
include both the large
white Rail Link logo (top)
and the “meatball” ver-
sion (above). Only 100
models will be produced;
20 each of five road num-
bers. DCC-ready models will have an MSRP of $235.00. Units
with LokSound and DCC will list at $335.00. Delivery is sched-
uled for September 2015.
Red Caboose
has a
variety of undeco-
rated kits for HO scale
MRH-Dec 2014
