RAPIDO TRAINS: Budd Coaches and Hep1 & Hep2 coaches

Charls Gendron
Nov 1
3 min read

All 30 Coaches were delivered to Canadian Pacific in 1954 and 1955 and were initially numbered in the 100-series under Canadian Pacific. All but one of the original coaches were transferred to VIA Rail Canada in 1978 and, save for those damaged in derailments, are all still in use today. They form the backbone of most of VIA Rail Canada’s services to this day, found not only on the busy Quebec City-Windsor corridor, but on all other services across the country, including the Canadian, Ocean, Hudson Bay and northern Quebec services.

Beginning in the late 1980s, VIA Rail upgraded its entire ex CPR Budd stainless steel fleet with Head End Power (referred to as HEP), which allowed newer locomotives to be able to heat the trains without the need for aging steam generator cars. These cars are called “HEP1 cars” and are typically found on long-distance trains today. Many coaches and baggage cars can also be found in intercity service on the Quebec City-Windsor corridor.

Additionally, VIA Rail began purchasing second-hand Budd cars throughout 1980s from Amtrak and other second/third/forth-hand owners to supplement its fleet and allow for expansion. These cars would be completely rebuilt as either first class “VIA 1” Cars or Coaches and were called “HEP2 cars” and delivered in 1996. These cars contain pass-through MU (multiple unit) cables and are almost exclusively found in intercity service on the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. The HEP2 cars could be found in British Columbia and Northern Quebec.

Most of the Budd cars originally purchased by Canadian Pacific, as well as those bought used by VIA Rail, continue to form an integral part of both intercity and long distance services to this day. They will no doubt find a suitable use on your model railroad too.

The Superior Stainless Budd Coach Features:

HEP2 cars feature all-new windows, body skirt details and all-new HEP underframe details.
HEP1 and HEP2 cars feature all-new end tooling with HEP receptacles and cables
HEP1 and HEP2 cars feature working marker lights
Track-powered interior lighting compatible with DC and DCC layouts
Now featuring the MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted passenger car lighting
Full underbody detail, including HEP or steam details
NEW! HEP1 and HEP2 cars feature working marker lights
Realistic stainless steel finish with sprung diaphragms
Separate metal grab irons and end gates
Accurate D22 brake equipment and piping
Super-detailed 41-NDO-11 or Knorr 26C trucks with end frames
Full, multi-colour interior detail
3D CP beaver shields on CPR models
Metal knuckle couplers
Suggested minimum radius: 22”