Rapido HO – VIA Rebuilt F40PH-2D Locomotive
Looking for the very face of passenger rail in Canada — the locomotive that has led VIA Rail's trains since the 1980s and that you recognize at a glance? This collection brings together the versions of Rapido Trains' VIA Rail Rebuilt F40PH-2D locomotive. A national icon through and through — enough to appear on the Canadian ten-dollar bill — this machine is a must-have for anyone modeling modern Canadian passenger rail, or a point of pride to run at the head of your LRC consists.
Rapido recreates this locomotive with the attention to detail the brand is known for. Built by General Motors Diesel Division in London, Ontario, between 1986 and 1989, these F40PH-2Ds stood out for their desktop-style control stand (hence the "D" in the designation) and a host of Canadian-specific details. In 2010, VIA contracted CAD Railway Industries in Lachine, Quebec, to rebuild its fleet: the HEP alternator was removed in favor of a separate HEP generator mounted at the rear, and the locomotive received the green, grey, and yellow Renaissance scheme. All 52 units were rebuilt by the end of 2012. The Rapido model faithfully reproduces this new body with its distinctive details — HEP generator fans, radiators, and cabling visible through the grilles — with a full lighting package, sound recorded directly from a rebuilt F40PH-2D, and the MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted power. This collection captures its variations, including the Renaissance scheme, the "Love the Way" wrap, and the commemorative ten-dollar-bill version (#6403). Offered as DC silent or with sound and DCC, these locomotives bring your layout the realism Rapido is known for.
What this collection brings together:
- VIA Rebuilt F40PH-2D locomotives (official name GPA-30H), HO scale (1:87)
- DC silent versions and sound-and-DCC versions (DCC ready, 21-pin interface)
- All-new body with distinctive rebuild details
- Faithful HEP generator details: fans, radiators, and cabling visible through the grilles
- Sound recorded directly from a rebuilt F40PH-2D; emergency horn and two types of VIA E-bell
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted power
- Working headlights, ditch lights, and number boards; emergency headlight and shutdown strobe
- Smooth-running five-pole motor with dual flywheels
- Factory-applied separate handrails and grab irons, crisp underbody detail
- Liveries: Renaissance (green, grey, yellow), "Love the Way," and Canadian $10 bill version (#6403)
- Suggested minimum radius: 18" (46 cm)
- Ideal for your modern VIA Rail passenger consists (LRC, HEP cars, and more)
