HO – Now available from Rapido Trains is its latest production of highly detailed replicas of EMD GP38 locomotives in new road names and production variations. Each of these highly detailed replicas features hybrid metal handrails with plastic vertical stanchions, separately-applied grab irons, a detailed cab interior with illuminated gauges on the control stand, flexible rubber sanding lines, m.u. and air hoses, a plethora of underbody details and a precision drive system featuring Rapido’s now-standard “Mo-Power” keep-alive circuit for smooth operation under DCC over short electrical gaps.
Never before offered as a model in any scale is the all-new extended-cab version of the GP38 available in this release. Every Rapido GP38 now includes see-through rooftop cooling fans from designs produced under license from Cannon & Company.
Between 1966 and 1972, 700 GP38s and 240 visually identical GP38ACs were constructed for US customers, with an additional 21 units built in Canada and six in Mexico.
Every Rapido GP38 comes with an extensive array of LED lighting, including working headlights, number boards, backlit illuminated gauges on the engineer’s control stand, front and rear walkway lights, ground lights, and where applicable, ditch lights or classification/marker lights.
Roadnames for this release include:
GP38s:
- Maine Central (Harvest Gold)
- Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (red/white stripes)
- Illinois Central Gulf (orange/white)
- New England Central (NECR blue/gold)
GP38-3 Rebuilds:
- Union Pacific
- CPKC (red/black/yellow KCS 2000)
GP38s with Dual-Control Stand Extended Cab:
- Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines
- Penn Central
- Conrail (blue)
- Eureka Southern (orange/red)
- BNSF (Swoosh logo – Smurf Blue)
- BNSF (Full H3 orange/black/yellow)
- Bangor & Aroostook (red/gray/black)
DC/DCC-ready silent GP38s are priced at $239.95 MSRP.
DC+DCC+Sound GP38s are $349.95 each MSRP.
Available now at your favorite dealer or direct.
Rapido Trains, 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5, Canada;1-855-572-6917; www.rapidotrains.com
Rapido’s replica of KCS 2000 in CPKC colors represents a standard EMD GP38 modernized with new electronics for improved fuel economy, greater pulling power and easier troubleshooting to become a “GP38-3”. Modernized details include a rooftop-mounted air conditioning unit, PTC antenna array, illuminated ditch lights front and rear and Blomberg trucks with the outer brake clasps removed.
In stark contrast to CPKC/KCS 2000 is the spartan appearance of Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines 2001 in Dark Green Locomotive Enamel per Pennsy practice. However, a closer look reveals its unique extended cab to accommodate dual engineer’s control stands within for consistent bidirectional operation where the engineer can always sit on the “right” side of the cab, regardless of direction. These unique extended-cab dual-control GP38s later found their way from PRSL to Conrail, Bangor & Aroostook, Eureka Southern, BNSF, LLPX and others.
