Rapido Releases HEP-Equipped E Units in HO Scale

Head-end power (HEP) is the use of electricity for providing heat, air conditioning and lighting for real-life passenger trains from electrical generators located at the “head-end” or front end of the train from either the locomotive or a dedicated HEP generator car. Up until the mid 1970s, the task of heating and air conditioning was accomplished through pressurized steam, with lighting provided through a combination of onboard batteries and axle-powered electrical generators when the train was in motion. In North America, Head-End Power (HEP) was first implemented in the 1950s on commuter trains on the Chicago and North Western Railroad. The C&NW removed the steam generator from its EMD F-units assigned to commuter service, and replaced it with a separate constant-speed diesel engine mated to an electrical generator (genset) to provide HEP to its passenger cars.

In the early 1970s, with massive growth in the suburbs west of Chicago, the West Suburban Mass Transit District (later part of Chicago’s METRA) set out to have 21 Burlington Northern E8A and E9A passenger locomotives rebuilt and upgraded by Morrison-Knudsen with modernized components, including the installation of Head End Power gensets. Four more BN E units were rebuilt in 1978, making a fleet of 25 in all, two of which went to IC, and then to Canadian National. Amtrak also rebuilt five of their own E-units with head end power, two of which later went to Conrail to help pull their executive office car specials.

Constructed on a heavy die cast frame, each Rapido E8/9 comes a precision all-wheel drive system and a “Mo-Power” keep-alive circuit for uninterrupted operation over momentary electrical gaps when under DCC control.

Now available from Rapido Trains are all-new highly-detailed replicas of EMD E8A and E9A passenger locomotives with modernized details representing HEP (Head-End Power) capability for Burlington Northern, Amtrak, Conrail, Canadian National, Metro-North and Illinois Central. These engines are not only era- and road-specific in details and paint, but feature details faithful to each road number where possible. True to the prototype, Conrail 4022 retains its steam generator installation, and details inherited from its Erie heritage.

Features include blanked portholes, additional rooftop cooling fans, HEP engine exhaust mufflers, cab interior, separately applied windshield windshield wipers, grab irons, handrails, coupler cut levers, MU and HEP receptacles, etched metal side grilles, brass air horns, cab visors and wind deflectors where appropriate and much more.

Lighting features include illuminated LED headlights and classification lights, number boards, inset ditch lights (for CN and IC units), ground lights and cab interior light.

Liveries include:

Amtrak Phase I (red/white/blue) – road numbers 497, 499
Amtrak Phase II (red/white/blue) – road numbers 495, 496, 498
Metro-North (Amtrak Phase II striping) – road number 497
Burlington Northern – Commuter Service (Cascade Green, black) – road numbers 9902, 9915, 9924
Burlington Northern – Executive Service – (Grinstein Green, creme) – road number 3
Conrail Executive – (dark green) road numbers 4020, 4021, 4022
Illinois Central (gray/black) – road numbers 100, 101
Canadian National (red/black, CN noodle) – road numbers 102, 103
Canadian National (green/gold) road numbers 102, 103

DC+DCC+Sound units equipped with ESU Loksound 5 decoders carry a suggested $349.95 each MSRP, while DC silent units with a 21-pin DCC plug retail for $239.95 each.

DC+DCC+Sound pairs are $669.90 MSRP, while DC/DCC-ready silent pairs are $459.90 MSRP.

Available now at your favorite hobby dealer or direct while supplies last.

Rapido Trains, 500 Alden Road, Unit 21 Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5, Canada;1-855-572-6917; www.rapidotrains.com

Details abound. HEP-equipped E units feature exhaust mufflers and an additional cooling fan for the HEP installation at the rear as well as extra cooling fans mounted over the center of the locomotive. Note also the differences in the stainless side grilles between the BN 9902 with horizontal vanes and the 9924 with Farr-style vertical apertures.