Rapido 580012 - GMD F40PH-2D (DC Silent) VIA Rail Canada (VIA) Original Scheme: #6445 - N Scale

Rapido 580012 - GMD F40PH-2D (DC Silent) VIA Rail Canada (VIA) Original Scheme: #6445 - N Scale

VIA’s F40PH-2D has been the face of passenger train travel in Canada since the 1980s. These locomotives were built in London, Ontario between 1986 and 1989.  They feature a desktop control stand (hence the “D” in the designation); a unique fuel tank and underframe arrangement, a carbody design with custom panel and door locations and numerous other Canadian-only details.

In 2010 VIA Rail Canada contracted CAD Railway Industries in Lachine, Quebec, to rebuild its F40 locomotive fleet.  This involved removal of the HEP (Head End Power) alternator and installation of a separate HEP generator in the rear of the locomotive. At the same time the locomotive was given VIA’s green, grey and yellow Renaissance paint scheme first seen on the P42DC locomotives in 2001. By the end of 2012 all 52 F40PH-2D locomotives had been rebuilt.

 The Rapido Trains N scale F40PH-2D  Locomotive features:

Scaled from original blueprints and field measurements
Unique Canadian F40PH-2D body and details
Working headlights, ditch lights, number boards
Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
Incredible underbody detail including separate piping
Different rooftop details for different paint schemes
Available in original scheme (1986-1998) and Canada scheme (1998-2014)
Accurate F40PH-2D sounds on sound-equipped models
Will operate smoothly on DC and DCC layouts
Suggested minimum radius: 11”