Rapido Trains UK has confirmed the specification for its forthcoming ‘OO’ gauge Great Western Railway (GWR) ‘44XX’ 2-6-2T.
This small class of just 11 locomotives was built in the early 1900s with the initial example emerging from the GWR’s Swindon Works, while the remainder were built at the company’s Works in Wolverhampton.
Rapido Train’s UK’s all-new ‘OO’ gauge ‘Small Prairies’ were first announced in late 2022 (HM187) and are set to appear in eight different guises finished as 4400 in Great Western green (Cat No. 951001/951501), 4408 in Great Western green (951002/951502), 4402 in GWR green with ‘shirtbutton’ roundel (951003/951503), 4406 in GWR wartime green (951004/951504), 4404 in British Railways (serif) green (951005/951505), 4409 in British Railways (sans serif) lined black (951006/951506), 4406 in BR lined black with early crests (951007/951507) and 4401 in BR plain black with early crests (951008/951508).
Currently in tooling, each model will be available Digital Command Control (DCC) ready or DCC sound-fitted, while the specification will incorporate a high-quality motor, Next18 DCC decoder socket, firebox flicker, sprung buffers and a raft of locomotive and era-specific detailing including early or late-era buffer styles, inside and outside steam pipe versions, parallel or tapered chimneys and two different patterns of rivet for the side tanks.
Prices are set at £172.95 for DCC ready models and £284.95 for DCC sound-fitted examples. Release is expected during the final quarter of 2024.
Visit Rapido Trains UK for more information.
