rapidoandy

Well I’m off! Honestly I have a bit of a dislike of flying. @RapidoCorbs has pointed out that I’m currently travelling at four times Mallard speed - which I’m not sure helps. I’m fairly certain the team are tracking my departure so they know I have actually gone… …next stop Canada.

Afternoon all, Well after several years of working for Rapido Trains I’m finally off to Canada! Its is not a jolly (really) - we (Rapido UK) are sponsoring the Great British Train Show this weekend in Brampton (near Rapido Inc HQ). A box of samples has already winged its way across the pond and as I write this I’m sat waiting in Heathrow for my flight. Obviously I shall be calling in to the Canadian office, hopefully watching some passing trains and even visiting a local model railroad club. After the show I’m heading South to meet up with my family and see, what in my opinion, is one of the most interesting steam operations I know. The team are working hard while I’m away - there is so much cool stuff going on that we have yet to tell you about and I’m even hoping I will arrive back to some samples of yet un-announced projects. The team are under strict instructions not to start anything new in my absence 🤣. I shall post some updates during the trip for anyone that’s interested. For anyone near Toronto - why not come to the show and say hello!

Well I’m sat in the airport ready to head to Canada to join you all! Happy modelling!

Oh I love watching this… Maybe it’s just a case of I fancied seeing the U on a railway I drive on. There was one on the railway in the first days of preservation. Or maybe we’re not making the U but ‘River Rother’. Or maybe Rapido UK are buying Marcia Or a new Norwegian mogul Or a new bucket! Or maybe it’s nowt at all…

Huh! Always interesting to hear views. The Scalefour Society have congratulated us on (where we can) making things friendly for them - so much so they are coming to our show. Yes not everything is because it’s not cost effective (especially with things like steam locos). Our motto (in relation to EM and P4) is - Where we can we do - and most people are happy with that and accept it. I cant recall with the fireless - I’m off today but will ask one of the designers later this week. Take care, Andy

One of our retailers has taken an exclusive commission of opens in a suitable livery… https://thewagonyard.co.uk/product/guy-fawkes-rch-1907-spec-10t-open-wagon/

A new (fun) livery for our fireless…

For those who saw our earlier post: It's no joke, we’ve been plotting to make a 31. We are expanding the ‘Caledonia’ 0-4-0 Fireless range, with a G. Fawkes ‘What If’ Livery No. 31, the perfect loco to complement our previously launched Not-Quite-Mink. Pre-order yours now, and remember, no smoking while on board! https://rapidotrains.co.uk/caledonia-fireless-0-4-0/

‘Usual’ windup?? You know us better than that. We wouldn’t announce something we don’t intend to make - after all we made Titfield and the colourful APT-R didn’t we? Another 31 is really needed for the front of our train…

Whenever I visit my wife at her work I walk have to walk past a LBSCR box van. I often stop and stare...

Keep an eye on our website in the coming weeks. We plan to offer our sound file, decoder and the new PCB needed up upgrade the Model Rail versions as a product shortly…

With the arrival of our PO Wagons later this month we thought we would some more to the range - this time a 6' 6" side door only 7-plank. A large number of wagons were produced to this design for both private companies and also mainline railway firms - see Corbs thread on these. Once again we will produce a few private owner liveries - but after several requests we have added some ex- PO wagons in BR livery. To finish it off we have added four "What If" liveries featuring locomotive engineers of the Big Four. The orderbook is open and as usual you can order direct from us or from any of our official retailers.

You might not like the blue one but it has out sold the two you mention by a HUGE amount. The O1 is a bit of a personal project for several members of my team and I think they may have requested the liveries so we have given them a go. There is also far less physical variation in the O1 compared to the E1 so the factory are a bit happier taking the same base model, in black as per another and then only applying a few different tampo prints. The E1 models we are making are (nearly) all different to each other which takes more effort - which means the we need more sales to make it worthwhile.

We find that wartime liveries generally sell less well than any other. If someone wants to commission a similar sized run to the one above I would be more than happy to talk to them - but it needs to be quick!

Rapido Trains UK in conjunction with the Brighton Circle are pleased to announce an all-new livery for our forthcoming E1 0-6-0 tank. Locomotive No.110 (now preserved at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway) will now be available in Marsh-era goods black livery with double red lining suitable for between 1912 to the locomotive’s sale into industry in 1924. Whilst there had been previous plans to offer this livery with another retailer the plans fell through, and the livery was not retrospectively added into the standard range. After a recent approach from Brighton Circle, Rapido Trains UK have agreed to offer this livery to modellers– subject to enough orders being placed prior to the orderbook closing date in early April. The model will only be available direct from Rapido Trains UK via their website on behalf of the Brighton Circle who will donate the profits to LB&SCR-related preservation projects. A minimum of 100 orders will be required for the model to proceed. Both DCC Ready and DCC SOUND versions will be available. With a new livery being added to the E1 there is no better time to be a Brighton modeller – keep your eyes peeled for further projects in the future or sign up to the Rapido Trains UK Newsletter to find out the latest announcements. Rapido Trains UK would like to thank the Brighton Circle and its members for their encouragement, help and support with this and future projects. You can order your model of 110 by clicking the link below: E1 No.110 Marsh Lined Black – Rapido Trains UK It is worth reiterating again - this will only go ahead if enough orders are placed. If you were one of the people that asked me for one - now is your chance!