ABOUT RAPIDO TRAINS INC. 
  The Rapido, Spadina Yard, 1965. Photo by Al Holtz. Image courtesy Morning Sun Books. Click here to visit their web site. |
Rapido Trains Inc. is a high-end manufacturer of model trains and
accessories in both HO and N scales. Our aim is to recreate the entire rail
travel experience, from fully-detailed interiors and underframe equipment on
our trains to fully-wired telephone poles for your model railroad.
The name RAPIDO was introduced by CN in 1965 to headline the railway's
high-speed intercity passenger services. Until the mid-1980s, RAPIDO stood
for fast schedules, frequent trains, and superb service. Today, we continue
the RAPIDO idea with our state-of-the-art models and attention to detail.
Like CN's RAPIDO, we aim to provide the highest quality and value. We are
not related to Arnold Rapido, the European line of N-scale trains from the
1960s and 1970s.
MEET THE TEAM
JASON SHRON founded Rapido Trains Inc. in 2003 and incorporated the company
in November 2004. Jason is very well known in the Canadian model railroad
community and author of the book, TurboTrain: A Journey. Jason is the owner
of the popular CanModelTrains internet discussion group, which you can join
by clicking here, and he is currently building a piece of CN's
Kingston Sub in his basement in 1:87.1 and 1:1 scales. Jason is married with
two gorgeous children, Boaz and Dalya, and some Daleks and Cybermen.
Jason's wife, SIDURA LUDWIG is an up-and-coming Canadian author. Her first novel, Holding My Breath, is available from Key Porter Books (Canada), Shaye
Areheart (USA), Tindal Street Press (UK) and Droemer Verlag (Germany). Your
wife or daughter will love the book. Please Click Here to visit Sidura's web
site and please tell your wife or daughter about it. She's included here as
a shameless plug for you to buy her book.
BILL SCHNEIDER is our brand new, state-of-the-art product development llama (llama? - that can't be good)
who doesn't always proofread the text I send him for the web site (which clearly isn't the case, but if Jason wants to admit to living with Daleks and Cybermen - well, he owns the company). Bill has
been involved in the retail, wholesale and manufacturing aspects of model
railroading since 1982 and was responsible for product development at
Branchline Trains since the early middle ages (the LATE Middle Ages actually, come on Jason...). Bill's New York, Ontario and
Western double-deck layout has been featured in oodles of magazines and
books (Well, a few...). We're still trying to convince Bill to buy a full-size LRC
locomotive (not really that interested in an LRC, but if you know of a good RS-1 or RS-3.... call me), but since we're only paying him $10 a week, it may take some
time to save up.
DAN GARCIA is our full-time specialist in research and development, customer
service, layout building, sample testing, communications, website design -
heck, he does just about everything. Our beautiful display layout would not
exist were it not for Dan's tireless efforts. Dan responds well to bribery
provided that it is related to modern Canadian commuter operations and
traction. If you have any problems with your Rapido products, give Dan a
call. Dan's your man.
MARK KALUZA is a fire fighter in real life but in his pretend life he helps
us with warranty repairs. Mark is the only person we know who can kitbash
100% accurate VIA passenger cars while simultaneously wearing 150 pounds of
fire-fighting equipment. Mark also helps out at shows and will occasionally
save your cat.
Rapido Trains Inc. is always looking for expert rivet counters to help with
our research and development, especially if you have CAD experience. If you
think you can help us out, please Contact Us.
