Rapido OO Gauge GWR 44xx/45xx/4575 Small Prairie

[AY Mod]

Rapido UK announces all-new ‘OO’ gauge GWR ‘Small Prairie’

 

·       All-new ‘45XX’ 2-6-2T

·       All-new ‘4575’ 2-6-2T

·       First time: RTR ‘44XX’ 2-6-2T

 

 

Rapido Trains UK’s new ‘B-Set’ coaches really needed a locomotive to go with them… and so Rapido is pleased to announce an all new range of GWR ‘Small Prairies’!

 

The ‘Small Prairie’ story started in 1904 when prototype No. 115 was built. It was designed for branch line working and was so successful that ten more were built in 1905/1906. They became the ‘44XX’ class.

 

Good though the ‘44XXs’ were, they were hampered by their 4ft 1 1/2in diameter driving wheels. Larger 4ft 7 1/2in diameter driving wheels were fitted from 1906 and this became the famous ‘45XX’ class.

 

Churchward’s successor, Charles Collett, made some tweaks to the design, the most noticeable being the larger tanks fitted to the final 100, built in 1927-1929. These became the ‘4575’ class.

 

The ‘Small Prairie’ family was a huge success story. They worked all over the GWR network and lasted until almost the end of Western Region steam, the last being withdrawn in December 1964.

 

Sales & Marketing Manager Richard Foster said, “We’re delighted to add the ‘Small Prairie’ family to our range. Having decided to produce the ‘B-Set’, we needed a locomotive to pull them. And what better choice is there than the ‘Small Prairie’?

 

“We plan to not only bring you ‘45XXs’ and ‘4575s’ to the highest standards demanded but also offer a ‘44XX’ too, which has never been produced ready-to-run before.”

 

Design work is already under way and Rapido aims to include key changes made to the ‘Small Prairies’ throughout their lives as well as myriad smaller detail differences. They will have a Next18 decoder socket, factory-fitted sound speaker and firebox flicker. As design work is still on-going, liveries and prices have yet to be confirmed.

 

Rapido UK would like to thank Mark Sealey from Peak Rail, the Waterman Heritage Trust and Kenny Felstead for their help in developing this exciting range of models.

 

In order to be the first to receive updates about this exciting project, click here to sign up to the Rapido UK newsletter at https://rapidotrains.co.uk/newsletter/

[Hilux5972]

Very excited for this one. Hopefully the Maroon LU one will be included 

[SteamingWales]

Didn't expect to see this!

 

I'll take a unlined black early emblem and lined green late crest please 😊

[ndg910]

Fantastic. A great choice to tool the 44xx. Definitely one of the missing GW locos in RTR form. Suppose I can cancel my search for a decent but economically priced Bachmann 45xx which I was going to convert. Just an Aberdare and 1101 class dock tank now to keep me even happier 😃 

[Harlequin]

It will be interesting to see how they deal with the different wheelbases of the 44xx, 45xx and 4575 classes.

 

(I'm channelling my inner @Miss Prism 🤪)

 

[Paul.Uni]

If you're taking livery requests, I'll purchase models of L150 in:

• 2013 variation of livery with full hight cab
• 2013 variation of livery with reduced height cab
• 2021 variation of livery with reduced height cab

[Hilux5972]

1 minute ago, Paul.Uni said:

If you're taking livery requests, I'll purchase models of L150 in:

• 2013 variation of livery with full hight cab
• 2013 variation of livery with reduced height cab
• 2021 variation of livery with reduced height cab

There are variations of liveries?

[County of Yorkshire]

The 44xx is welcome but the 45xx & 4575 variant is an odd choice as there’s very little wrong with the Bachmann model and I won’t be replacing mine. 
 

Surely low hanging fruit like the Saint and Hawksworth County would’ve been a better choice? 
 

CoY

[Paul.Uni]

56 minutes ago, Hilux5972 said:

There are variations of liveries?

2013

 

2021

[Schooner]

Gah! Another opportunity for an 850, which gives you everything from 1870s shine

(Source)

to 1950s grime

goes whooshing by...

 

...but it's hard not to be tempted by a 44XX!

[Madreddog]

17 minutes ago, County of Yorkshire said:

The 44xx is welcome but the 45xx & 4575 variant is an odd choice as there’s very little wrong with the Bachmann model and I won’t be replacing mine. 
 

Surely low hanging fruit like the Saint and Hawksworth County would’ve been a better choice? 
 

CoY

The even lower hanging fruit are the Metro tank and 517 class plus various classes of saddle-later-pannier tanks.

 

I shall be sticking with Bachmann whose model can be had for sub £60 secondhand. Given that Rapido appear to be avoiding using wiper pickups on their models and instead using the problematic split chassis that, as yet, no-one has made reliable on steam locos I won't be buying their locos.

Edited November 26, 2022 by Madreddog

[Captain Kernow]

Very glad to see the 44XX announced - it's long overdue in RTR form!

 

[Hilux5972]

42 minutes ago, Paul.Uni said:

2013

 

2021

Aaah I see. Thanks 

[Mikkel]

3 hours ago, AY Mod said:

Design work is already under way and Rapido aims to include key changes made to the ‘Small Prairies’ throughout their lives as well as myriad smaller detail differences.

 

I wonder how far back Rapido intend to go with the 44xx. The original design would be nice, but I'm not too hopeful.

 

Source: Image embedded from Heather's build on the S7 pages:  https://www.scaleseven.org.uk/index.php?id=386

 

[maq1988]

N gauge please Rapido!

[Schooner]

22 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

Heather's build

Fascinating, thanks for sharing! Agreed, original condition is the only thing I could get anywhere near justifying, although it's obviously a B Set ummm, well, set. Rapido rarely disappoints, I'm happy to wait and see what they've got in mind.

 

[57xx]

I might be tempted by a 44xx but like others can see no issue with the current 45xx from Bachmann. Other yet to be filled gaps in the loco line up  would have been more welcome.

[Chuffed 1]

Agree with most of the above. A 44xx is  too early for me and other two are admirably catered for by Bachmann.

 

I suppose the early Wolverhampton 45xx with straight running plate step might be an option - 4517 lasted until 1963.

 

Agree about the Hawksworth County. Strange that Hornby, Bachmann, Accurascale and Rapido have all avoided it - the non- standard tender, perhaps?

[BMacdermott]

Congratulations to Rapido on the announcement of these locos!

 

They didn't appear in The 00 Wishlist Poll until 2018 due to our cut-off date for remakes and came in as Middle Polling.

 

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

[D9020 Nimbus]

The 44xx is welcome but I can't understand the others, frankly.

 

The only silver lining is that they might do it in N gauge where the Dapol model has solid wheels, and geared to run far faster than it should be. Clearly needs replacing and not just making DCC-friendly (not even DCC-ready) as Dapol seem to be planning for the Ivatt tank.

[Miss Prism]

2 hours ago, Mikkel said:

I wonder how far back Rapido intend to go with the 44xx. The original design would be nice, but I'm not too hopeful.

 

I think Rapido would be a bit mad to do a short smokebox short bunker version.

 

[RichardT]

Good to see the under-served GWR 4mm scale market finally getting some product. 😆

 

But Rapido are forgiven all because they’re doing the NER Dynamometer Car in N.  Please shrink the Y7 too Rapido!!

 

RichardT

Edited November 26, 2022 by RichardT
Spelling

[Mark]

1 hour ago, 57xx said:

I might be tempted by a 44xx but like others can see no issue with the current 45xx from Bachmann. Other yet to be filled gaps in the loco line up  would have been more welcome.

For starters the Bachmann 4500-4574 valence should be wider over the cylinders. The motion bracket on the 4575 is wrong and should be the flanged type seen on the later large prairies.

The motion bracket on both has what I assume is a lubrication filler for the vacuum pump on both sides of the motion bracket. It should only be on the right hand side.

 

Mark

[Miss Prism]

4585 at Terras Bridge on 11 July 1959. I think this is lined green.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2022 by Miss Prism
Added the lined green bit

[Cwmtwrch]

6 hours ago, Harlequin said:

It will be interesting to see how they deal with the different wheelbases of the 44xx, 45xx and 4575 classes.

It isn't just the variations in wheelbase; the whole relationship of body, cylinders and chassis is different between 44xx and 45xx/4575, because of the smaller wheels. The differences are mostly small, the biggest being 6" in the length between blast pipe and cylinders and the front axle, but cumulatively do they affect the appearance.