CSX had ex-Seaboard units with the late body style; they had no anticlimber.  They did have plated class lights, large Salem air dryer, the CSX/Seaboard type fuel tank with correct filler/gauge locations, a hinged drop step, a CSX-specific pilot with a large plow, a brass KL5R24 horn, and CSX/Seaboard sunshade brackets.  They had no ditch lights, but front frame-mounted ditch lights versions were available; also available with white-painted cab roof for post 2000+ operations.

(Model Preproduction sample picture - 3rd below - has ATSF on right)

The Rapido HO B36-7 features:

• 3D scanned from an ex-CSX B36-7 for 100% accurate shape and dimensions
• Incredible underframe detail including piping and a ridiculous number of separately-applied parts
• Full cab interior, with correct orientation for standard or Southern locomotives
• Dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
• A crazy level of road-specific detail options, with different pilots, anticlimbers, plows, fuel tanks, air dryers, antennas, bell location, wind deflectors, headlight locations, air-conditioning units, beacons, different bodies, multiple nose and rear end styles, three versions of drop step, and so on.
• With or without class lights (as appropriate)
• Conrail locomotives have unique ‘built out’ style class lights
• ATSF, Conrail and Southern locomotives have single or double baffles appropriate to era and road number
• Three styles of operating, flashing ditch lights, front and rear (as appropriate)
• Working headlights in correct location, switchable number boards at both ends and cab interior headlight
• SP locomotive has working dual Gyralite and red emergency light
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound (ESU LokSound) options
• Accurate sounds recorded from an actual Minnesota Commercial B36-7 under load
• Rapido’s proven 5-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels and silky-smooth drive

Rapido Innovations:

Rapido’s latest innovation is their combined plastic/metal wire handrails. Yes, wave goodbye to wobbly and translucent engineering plastic handrails that are difficult to bend back to shape and flake paint (see the 4th picture of the rear of the prototype model). Also, note the SP light package at the rear, late style body with additional radiator grills, large Salem air dryer, “bathtub” exhaust silencer, and those beautiful trucks.

We also went to town on the cab interior. We now provide illuminated cab interiors as standard on our new locomotives so there’s no point in holding back! You almost feel you could jump in this cab and start it up. Front and backhead detail is equally well rendered.  (see the 5th picture of interior of cab)

See the 6th picture below for the preproduction sample that shows:  traction motor cabling, air piping, large air cylinders, small air dryers, framing with truck bolsters, fuel cut off switch, and general all round attention to detail. With kind thanks to the Minnesota Commercial for allowing me to crawl all over (and under) their locomotive!

More details (see 7th picture) of more variety – Southern/Norfolk Southern high short hood (ignore the wrong cab) and the rear of the Conrail unit showing the built out red class lights.

See also the details of the front and rear trucks (8th picture below).

For the first time in HO Scale, the Rapido HO Scale, GE B36-7 reproduces all of the incredible features of the prototype precisely to detail.  How do we know that?  Because, thanks to the kind folks at Transkentucky Transportation (now the largest operator of B36-7s in North America), we made a 3D laser scan of a real B36-7 – number 5815! In addition, Minnesota Commercial allowed us to make extensive measurements of their huge and eclectic collection of Dash 7s in Saint Paul so we could ensure that our model detail variations match the prototypes!