Rapido Trains Budd “Manor” Sleepers

Shown in its “Action Red” livery and displaying CP Rail markings is “Elgin Manor,” Rapido Trains will soo offer the road’s Budd-built sleeping cars in HO scale.

Rapido Trains Budd “Manor” Sleepers

HO — Rapido Trains plans new additions to its “Superior Stainless” series of HO-scale passenger car models. The reproductions will complement the hobby company’s “The Canadian” releases first offered in 2012. This new sleeping car represents a Budd-built prototype and one of more than 40 in service on Canadian Pacific beginning in the mid-1950s. The cars made up the road’s “Manor” series and names came from prominent figures in English Canadian history. The floorplan was a 4-4-5-1 (four sections, four roomettes, five double bedrooms, and a single compartment) setup.

Above: Though well-known for not missing underbody detail, and this new sleeping car model has that, take a look at the interior detail you’ll find on these coming Rapido Trains’ HO-scale passenger cars.

The fully assembled release will come with full multi-color interior illuminated by LED lighting (track powered and compatible with standard DC and Digital Command Control operations). Similar to other Rapido Trains offerings in this series, the model will come finished in a realistic stainless steel finish. Additional features of these HO passenger car models will include separately applied metal grab irons, stirrup steps, and end gate details, with working sprung end diaphragms. The full underbody detail will include separate air, steam, and electrical lines with accurate D22 brake equipment and piping present on the model. The cars will ride on smooth-rolling metal wheels and will come equipped with body-mounted metal Macdonald-Cartier knuckle couplers.

Above: These Rapido Trains illustrations show the paint schemes planned for this model’s initial production run.

The production will present Canadian Pacific (maroon and gold with 3D-printed raised beaver/shield herald), CP Rail (Action Red with multimark logo), VIA Rail Canada (early scheme accurate for 1978 through late 1990s service and 1990-to-present livery with Canadian flag emblem). You’ll find six named and numbered “Manor” cars for each of these Canadian roads. In addition, modelers will be able to have their own “Manor” name with decorated sleeping cars available in each scheme that will come sans name and number. Seaboard Air Line operated a similar sleeping car and Rapido Trains will offer its model decorated for four roster members: “Bay Pines,” “Cedartown,” “Pinehurst,” and “Southern Pines.” Amtrak inherited these original Seabord cars and Rapido will provide a Phase I scheme release with four car names. The other newly announced addition to this series a Budd baggage-dorm car model. Check with your hobby dealer or visit Rapido Trains online for additional information.

Below: This view of “Butler Manor” from mid-1979 at Calgary, Alberta, shows the opposite side of this Budd sleeper from the view at the top of the page of “Laird Manor.” By this point in the late 1970s, VIA Rail Canada was the operator of this car and most Canadian passenger service. During these transition years, modelers can prototypically mix CP Rail and VIA Rail Canada cars in a consist. On the left of this car is a blue VIA roster member. — Dick Kuelbs photo, Kevin EuDaly collection

 

Rapido Trains 
500 Alden Road, Unit 21 
Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada 
855-572-6917
rapidotrains.com

This article was posted on: October 28, 2020