Rapido Trains Inc. is pleased to announce the newest release in our New Haven stainless steel series – the “County” cars. As with other cars in this series, these cars have been developing in association with The New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association (NHRHTA).

The New Haven railroad took delivery of a group of twenty stainless steel baggage-parlor-lounge cars in 1948. A part of the post-war passenger train modernization, these cars were named after counties served by the New Haven. That part was simple. Now the history of these cars gets more complicated!

The initial 1948 order was delivered in four different interior configurations, but all with baggage compartments, a drawing room, two roomette sleeping accommodations and a mix of parlor seat arrangements.

In 1952 the New Haven determined that they needed more drawing rooms so two of the cars were rebuilt with drawing rooms in place of the baggage section. This conversion was successful enough that four more cars (for a total of six) were also converted. However, these six additional cars included no fewer than three NEW interior configurations! Cars #210-219 somehow escaped the rebuilds and retained their baggage sections throughout their service life.

The “County” cars were some of the longest lasting New Haven stainless steel cars, some serving well into Amtrak.

1604 Washington County in Amtrak Phase I - Photo Courtesy NHRHTA

Rapido’s HO scale model covers these cars in both the original baggage variation and the later rebuilt cars. We offer both the original baggage and the later rebuilt bodies and full interior details for each style. Multiple interior parts allow modelers to customize the interior parlor seat arrangements to match specific cars.

Model Features:

• Accurately designed from original blueprints

• Both original and rebuilt body styles

• Correct tubular cross section

• Rapido’s renowned stainless steel finish

• Partial skirting or no skirting as appropriate for each scheme

• Full and correct interior details with extra optional parts

• Track-powered constant lighting for DC and DCC

• Full underbody details

• Operating diaphragms with end gates

• Separate grab irons, factory-installed

• 41-NBO trucks with blackened metal wheels

• 22” minimum radius (18” radius with modification)

• Macdonald-Cartier metal magnetic knuckle couplers