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
MRH-Dec 2014
