Rapido 1078518 • EMD GP40 • Kansas City Southern KCS #2838 • Southern Belle Scheme • DC/DCC/Sound • HO Scale (Pre-Order)

Rapido Trains HO Scale EMD GP40

Kansas City Southern • Southern Belle Scheme • Road Number 2838 • DC/DCC/Sound

Product Overview

Rapido Trains continues its acclaimed GP40 series with this stunning Kansas City Southern locomotive decorated in the railroad's iconic Southern Belle paint scheme. One of EMD's most successful four-axle road switchers, the GP40 became a staple of North American railroading thanks to its versatility, reliability, and impressive 3,000-horsepower performance.

Few paint schemes are as recognizable as Kansas City Southern's Southern Belle colors. Inspired by the railroad's famous passenger train, the vibrant red, yellow, and black livery transformed KCS locomotives into some of the most eye-catching diesels on the continent. This GP40 combines that unforgettable appearance with Rapido's extensive prototype research and premium model engineering.

The EMD GP40

Introduced by Electro-Motive Division in 1965, the GP40 quickly became one of the most successful diesel locomotives ever built. Its dependable 16-cylinder 645-series prime mover, strong performance, and adaptable design made it a favorite among railroads across North America. Many GP40s remained in service for decades and continue to operate today in rebuilt and modernized forms, making them one of the most enduring locomotive designs in railroad history.

Product Features

The Rapido Trains HO Scale GP40 Locomotive Features

• •NEW! Tri-color class lights (where appropriate)
• •NEW! Early-production truck, handrail and Automatic Train Stop details for New York Central units
• •Equipped with licensed Cannon & Company 48” radiator and dynamic brake fans
• •Rapido’s innovative dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
• •Incredible underframe detail including traction motor cables, air filters and a silly number of separately applied parts
• •Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
• •Operating ditch lights and beacons (where appropriate)
• •Road-specific battery box doors
• •Highly detailed cab interior
• •Correct fuel tank sizes per road number
• •Multiple styles of stepwells
• •See-through, etched-metal steps
• •Appropriate cab or nose headlights
• •Multiple truck sideframes tooled
• •Multiple dynamic-brake hatches
• •MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• •DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
• •Suggested minimum radius: 18”

Why We Love This Model

The GP40 is consistently one of our best-selling locomotive models because it checks every box for railroad enthusiasts. Nearly every modeler can find a place for a GP40, whether they model the late 1960s, the modern era, or anything in between. Rapido has elevated the model even further with exceptional prototype fidelity, factory-installed details, road-specific variations, and one of the smoothest-running mechanisms available today. Features such as the MoPower capacitor system, metal handrails, licensed Cannon fans, and extensive underbody detailing make this one of the finest GP40 models ever offered in HO Scale. The Southern Belle paint scheme takes everything we love about the GP40 and pairs it with one of the most striking locomotive liveries in North America. The bright colors, strong railroad heritage, and exceptional Rapido execution make this a locomotive that stands out both on the layout and in a display case.

Reserve Your KCS Southern Belle GP40 Today

Add one of railroading's most popular locomotive designs in the iconic Southern Belle paint scheme before reservation quantities are filled.

Pre-Order Notice

This is a pre-order-only production—quantities are limited and based on reservations.

How to Place Your Pre-Order

1. Wait for the button to say “Pre-Order Now”
2. Confirm you see “$0.00 due today”
3. Complete checkout

How Pre-Orders Work

• •Reserve your item today.
• •We will contact you once inventory is en route to us with your final invoice.
• •Manufacturer delivery dates are estimates and may change.
• •You will still enter payment information at checkout, but as long as you see “$0.00 due today”, your card will not be charged.
• •We do not automatically charge cards when pre-orders arrive. You will receive a separate invoice once your item is ready to ship.

Important Note

Orders placed without the “$0.00 due today” option selected will be processed as full-payment orders. Please review our refund policy and other pre-order policies before placing your order.