The United Aircraft
TurboTrain is an important part of our railroad heritage. The Turbo
was a high-speed passenger train that operated in Canada and the
United States from the 1960s to the 1980s. To this day, it is the
fastest production train in North American history. It achieved
the American speed record of 170.8 MPH in 1967 and the Canadian
speed record of 140.6 MPH in 1976, both of which still stand today.
The TurboTrain was designed and marketed by United Aircraft Corporate
Systems Center (later Sikorsky Aircraft) as a gas turbine-powered,
high-speed intercity train. Each train was powered by four or five
Pratt & Whitney ST-6 gas turbine engines, with an additional
gas turbine providing auxiliary power. The Turbo featured a unique
pendular suspension over articulated single-axle trucks, which allowed
the train to tilt in curves. That feature, combined with the short
Intermediate Car length, meant that the Turbo could travel much
faster than regular trains on conventional track. It was a high-speed
train without the need to invest in high-speed train infrastructure.
The American
TurboTrain operated first for Penn Central and then toured the United
States in 1971 to introduce the nation to Amtrak. The Amtrak Turbo
operated mainly between New York and Boston until 1976. In Canada,
the Turbo operated first for CN and later for VIA Rail Canada. Operating
between Montreal and Toronto (and, for a time, Ottawa), the Turbo
became one of the most reliable trains in the country. Sadly, the
Turbo era came to an end in 1982. Each and every Turbo was scrapped.
The Rapido Trains
Inc. N scale TurboTrain is your chance to recreate this important
piece of our railroad history on your own
model railroad.
Features:
Accurate
dimensions scaled from original blueprints
Two powered
Power Dome Cars with smooth, reliable drive systems
Articulated
single-axle trucks with needlepoint axles
Full interior
detail with interior lighting
Different
Canadian and American versions with accurate details
All wheels
pick up power for electrical reliability
Working headlights,
tail lights, and Gyralites
Prototypically-tinted
windows
Canadian
customers can add a four-pack of Intermediate Cars to complete
their trains
Sound-equipped
models feature a sound decoder and sugar cube speaker in each
Power Dome Car
Sounds are
accurate Turbo sounds sourced from original Betamax video recordings
Sound decoders
are custom ESU LokSound with amazing sound quality
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak Set #1
(Phase III Early, white, blue, red)
DC
$449.95
$359.99
RAP-525001
$679.95
$543.99
RAP-525501
Amtrak Set #3
(Phase III Early, white, blue, red)
DC
$449.95
RAP-525002
$679.95
RAP-525502
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak Set #2
(Phase III Late, white, blue, red, black roof)
DC
$449.95
$359.99
RAP-525003
$679.95
$543.99
RAP-525503
Amtrak Set #4
(Phase III Late, white, blue, red, black roof)
DC
$449.95
$359.99
RAP-525004
$679.95
$543.99
RAP-525504
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak (Phase
V, silver, blue, gray, red)
DC
$449.95
RAP-525005
$679.95
$543.99
RAP-525505
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak Coach
#182 (Phase III Early, white, blue, red)
NA
$64.95
$55.20
RAP-525101
Amtrak
Coach #184 (Phase III Early, white, blue, red)
NA
$64.95
$55.20
RAP-525102
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak Snack
Bar Coach #183 (Phase III Early, white, blue, red)
NA
$64.95
RAP-525103
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak Coach
#185 (Phase III Late, white, blue, red, black roof)
NA
$64.95
RAP-525104
Amtrak
Coach #187 (Phase III Late, white, blue, red, black roof)
NA
$64.95
RAP-525105
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak Snack
Bar Coach #186 (Phase III Late, white, blue, red, black roof)
NA
$64.95
$55.20
RAP-525106
Road
Number
Control
MSRP
OUR
PRICE
PART
#
Amtrak Coach
No Number (Phase V, silver, blue, gray, red)