Yuletide Yankees – Even More S160 Production Colour Samples!

Rapido Trains has shared imagery of new samples from its forthcoming USATC S160 2-8-0 range for 'OO', including some of the most memorable preserved versions.

There are four wartime variants in the range: one from each of the Big Four regions. These will look at home at the head of a huge rake of private owner wagons, or flat wagons laden with top-secret cargo.

The manufacturer comments, "They don’t call it 'Big Jim' for no reason. Although of modest size when compared to the locomotive behemoths that our North American cousins utilised, the S160 is quite the substantial steamer when compared to many of the UK-based locomotives of its day. Lots of you will have seen 'Big Jim' at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, so we had to include it in our range. We hope you like our latest sample as much as we do."

The Churnet Valley Railway has been the premier preserved railway for S160 fans for many years, being the home to several examples of the class and having organised a variety of themed events that included double and triple- headed trains. Painted almost entirely in black, No. 5197 rounds out the Churnet Valley-based locomotives in its range.

 

Finished in a striking maroon livery, Omaha is well known to enthusiasts, as it has moved between a variety of heritage railways throughout its preservation years.

 

 

Everything about these samples is great – even the boxes!

 

Rapido Trains continued, "These samples give us everything we need to review the S160 ahead of final assembly, and we will be completing this review before the year is out. That way, our factory can make any final tweaks or adjustments and complete production of these magnificent models over the coming weeks. With such positive progress, we are confident that these models can still be delivered during Q1 of the new year."

Secure yours fast before they are deployed to other people's collections!