Rapido #25502 HO Scale RTL Turboliner 5-Unit Train, DCC & Sound – Amtrak (Phase III Early, Set #3)

Rapido 25502 RTL Turboliner 5-Unit Train – Sound and DCC — Amtrak Set 3; 154, 176, 177, 178, 155 (Phase III Early, white, red, blue)

The Rapido Trains HO Scale RTL Turboliner is based on passenger train sets built to improve service and equipment on key corridors. Following the success of the French-built RTG Turboliners in the mid-1970s and used in the Midwest, Amtrak turned to Rohr Industries in California to build modern Turboliners for use along the Empire Corridor out of New York City. The sleek new trains entered service in 1976 and their success brought passengers back to the busy corridor. Equipped with third-rail shoes, they offered passengers a one-seat ride into the all-electrified Grand Central Terminal. West of the electrified zone they switched to gas-turbine power. They worked on most corridor runs and occasionally ventured to Montreal, Detroit and Toronto.

In 1994 one set was refurbished into an RTL-II. The rebuild included new turbines, remodeled interior and a new paint scheme. It operated in service into 2003, but the rest of the fleet was not rebuilt and the fleet was retired in 2004.

The RTL Turboliner train set includes two power cars, two coaches and a snack coach. The train features interior details, directional headlights, marker lights, working strobes, metal grab irons and highly detailed trucks. Power cars feature a smooth-running drivefor reliable performance.

This sound-equipped RTL Turboliner is equipped with a full-featured sound and DCC decoder with accurate sounds recorded from the prototype.