Dear Customers

Rapido just got a strange call from the independent subcontractor that handles VIA Rail Canada's souvenir department. They have decided they no longer want to stock any inventory of model trains, and they are going to return to Rapido, all of their remaining factory-sealed Rapido HO scale VIA Rail Canada F40PH-2D locomotives.

What does this mean for you?  Well it means that, as many of you have been requesting, PWRS will be selling the VIA F40PH-2D locomotives.

Rapido is NOT selling these direct, as they are a limited item –  they will only be available through select Canadian dealers.

We don't yet know how many locomotives will become available, what the unit number breakdown will be, or how many will be DC and how many will be DCC – therefore we cannot guarantee orders.

These will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and we expect they will sell out quickly. Please place your orders right away, and we will do our best to fill them.

Thanks and have a great Christmas!

Best regards,

Rapido and PWRS

Prototype photo from the Kaluza-Mueller collection.

VIA's F40PH-2D has been the face of passenger train travel in Canada since the 1980s and while there have been a number of inaccurate F40 models painted in VIA colours, there has never been an accurate model of this 3000-horsepower Canadian workhorse.

Rapido has filled that gap with this HO scale model.

 The F40PH-2D was built in London, Ontario between 1986 and 1989.  It features a desktop control stand (hence the "D" in the designation); a unique fuel tank and underframe arrangement; a unique carbody design with custom panel and door locations; and numerous other Canadian-only details.

In 2008, VIA began a comprehensive rebuild program of its F40PH-2D fleet, concluding the program on schedule in November 2012. This will ensure that these locomotives will remain in service for years to come.

The Rapido F40PH-2D is a museum-quality model that features the exceptional level of detail, accuracy and passion that modellers have come to expect from Rapido. 

The project wass spearheaded by Rapido's owner, Jason Shron. Jason is a self-confessed "train-obsessed nutcase" and is considered to be one of VIA's biggest fans. Their design team worked with many of the foremost experts on these locomotives and no detail, no matter how small, has been overlooked.  You can thus be assured of the accuracy of these models.

Model Features: 

• First ready-to-run F40PH-2D ever produced in HO scale 100% accurate Canadian details - this is not a stand-in!
• Full underframe detail including piping and conduit 
• Numerous etched-metal parts including radiator grills 
• Accurate Canadian roof fans with correct number of blades 
• Full interior detail including desktop control stand 
• Available as a sound-equipped model with an ESU LokSound sound decoder or as a DC silent model
• Will operate smoothly on DC and DCC layouts 
• Rapido's proven 5-pole, skew-wound motor and silky-smooth drive system
• Macdonald-Cartier metal knuckle couplers mounted at the correct height 
• Numerous optional details such as an air conditioning unit, bug deflector, and etched-metal, later style air filter screens 
• Available in VIA's original scheme (1986-2000) and revised "Canada" scheme (1998-2012) 
• Ten numbers plus unnumbered available per paint scheme 

Rapido's DC F-40s are DCC-ready and come equipped with a 21-MTC plug for easy DCC decoder installation. 

VIA Delivery Scheme – 1986-2000

VIA "CANADA" Scheme with Flag – 1998 - 2012

Reservations Due Immediately

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

SOLD ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS

Expected Release: February 2015

jkb