Charls Gendron
Rapido Trains: 44-TONNER

Rapido Trains is pleased to announce an all-new group of HO scale locomotives – the General Electric 44-Ton diesel. Also commonly called “44-tonners,” these locomotive’s compact design was driven by a 1937 labor agreement with the railroad unions that specified that all locomotives over 90,000 pounds required the use of a fireman. At a target weight of 44-tons (88,000 pounds), these diesels allowed the railroads to use only an engineer, thus saving crew costs. They were perfect for light switching, industrial and shop use.
Built in several variations between 1940 and 1956, more than 300 GE 44-ton locomotives were produced. The 44-tonners saw service throughout North America (Canada, USA and México), as well in Australia, Cuba, India, France, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. The United States Navy and Air Force also owned a number of these locos. Many continued in operation with successive owners in industrial and shortline service. Numerous examples have been preserved.


The Rapido Trains HO scale GE 44-Tonner locomotive features:
Multiple phases and detail variations
Phase Ic (never offered before in plastic) both with and without lighted hood side number boards
Phase III with positionable top hood hatches
Phase IV
Heavy, die-cast chassis and fuel tank
Correct fuel tank skirting in two styles
Separately-applied door latches
Full cab interior
Photo-etched cab steps
Smooth running, strong coreless motor with dual flywheels
DC models are DCC ready with NEXT-18 decoder socket and speakers
DCC models are sound equipped with ESU decoders and sounds and include our own “Mo-Power” power capacitor


Canadian National - Green: Road Number #1 or #2
DC $199.98 CAD
DCC/sound $299.95 CAD

Boston & Maine - Minuteman: Road Number #114, #115, #117
DC $199.98 CAD
DCC/sound $299.95 CAD
Also available in the following roads:
(Most numbers available as DC $199.98 CAD or DCC/sound $299.95 CAD)
Sante Fe - Zebra Stripe: #463, #465, #468
Milwaukee Road: #991, #992
Rio Grande - Black & Yellow: #38, #40, #42
New Haven - Warm Orange: #0801, #0802, #0804
New York, Ontario & Western - Grey: #101, #103, #105
Northern Pacific - Black Scheme: #98
Pennsylvania: #9325, #9328, #9333
Southern Pacific - Tiger Stripe Scheme: #1900, #1901, #1902
Southern - Tuxedo Scheme: #1950, #1951, #1953
Union Pacific: #903999
Generic Industrial: Red
Generic Industrial: Yellow
Generic Industrial: Blue
Undecorated - Phase Ic Body
Undecorated - Phase III Body
Undecorated - Phase IVa Body