This week saw Rapido Trains’ launching its new dedicated UK business to develop a range of British-outline model trains and road vehicles.
Rapido Trains will already be known to many as the quirky Canadian business that has already completed commissioned models into the UK market including the J70 tram engine for Model Rail Magazine along with the APT-E and Stirling Single for the National Railway Museum’s Locomotion models. The UK arm of Rapido Trains Inc. launched 1st December 2020 with six new UK models:
- Western Region Hawksworth ‘15XX’ 0-6-0PT, ‘OO’ gauge
- Hunslet 16in 0-6-0ST, ‘OO’ gauge
- RCH/GWR Dia. Z4/BR Dia. 1/260 gunpowder van, ‘OO’ gauge
- MetroVick Type 2 Co-Bo (later Class 28), ‘N’ gauge.
- 1:76 scale Leyland Fleetline double-decker bus
- 1:76 scale Birmingham City Transport Guy Arab
Although no models of a Southern or Southern Region origin have been announced with friend Andy Hardy as Operations Manager having a ‘suitable’ interests in the South East who knows for the future…
Their Sales and Marketing Manager will also be known to many as Richard Foster has joined the new company from being the Editor of Model Rail Magazine.
More details about Rapido Trains UK can be found on their website here.
As with their 16XX tanks, a 15XX is overdue as a model.
I’m sure it will be made to the usual exacting standards.
On my ‘wants’ list . . .
Makes me wonder why the B company bothered with a 94XX . . .
I wish them well and maybe they’ll see the possibilities with SR 4 SUB /4 EPB units…..
Once can only hope!
Any news of the Rapido / Model Rail Stroudley E1?
No news at the moment as it will be down to Model Rail to provide any updates. As their 16xx is now in production, work on the E1 should hopefully be underway.
The B company have replicated most of the steam outline real & planned by the L company – 45xx, Crab, V2 & 94xx. Only the J50 was not recreated. I always thought that the body of the original Bachmann V2 was almost identical to that of the proposed Lima one that was pictured in their last catalogue. Probably just a coincidence.
Pretty much coincidental as far as I believe