My parents are moving, and in the process of packing we found my dad's old 1962 train set by Arnold Rapido. It is nearly complete and in great condition, so Dad challenged me to find out information about it. The problem is, I can't find this set anywhere!! I've looked on ebay and googled it, and found information on the company itself and individual cars and track, but not this particular set. Any ideas on where I can find more information? The set has 4 curved tracks, 6 straight tracks (it's 9mm track), a New Hampshire locomotive, Pennsylvania coal tender, Shell tank car, EJ&E box car, Santa Fe boxcar, a caboose, control, re-railer, and terminal clips with cable. I really appreciate any help, as I know nothing about model trains.
Try other model railroad forums.
Try Yahoo for searching.
How much time did you take in your search?
Searching the Internet is like searching a HUGE library. It may take time and patience.
What words/combination of words did you use in your search?
I usually find what I want.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I don't know much about old 1:160th A.K.A. N-scale (which is what 9mm track is), but I can promise you that there is no such railroad as the "New Hampshire" railroad. This might be part of your problem in finding more information.
What you have is a "New Haven" railroad engine, as in the New York, New Haven & Hartford RR Co. (NYNH&H). Don't worry...this sort of confusion frequently happens with newbies as everyone is used to "NH" representing New Hampshire, just like "RI" is Rhode Island or Rock Island.
If you're at all interested about learning more about the New Haven, try: www.nhrhta.org, the New Haven's historical society. Some good photos of NH locos can be found here: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nh/nh.html If the N-scale model is accurate for NH, perhaps using the number on the loco can help identify it, which will help with learning more about it. http://www.alphabetroute.com/nynhh/ has NH diesel rosters in PDF format.
Good luck! And welcome to New Haven modeling...even if by accident.
Paul A. Cutler III
Deleted post.
Sorry, got my Treble-O and rapidos mixed.
Just a little bit of background to your train set. Arnold Rapido, a German company, was the first to produce and market N scale equipment worldwide. There had been attempts prior to this year, but without a motor. Arnold closed its doors some 10 years ago, and the brand name was purchased by Hornby of UK. They have just started to put some trains on the market.
If your train set of 1962 is in a good condition, you should consider keeping it (under good care). Early Arnold models are rare, but not yet really collector´s items. A complete set might go for $ 50, but there is a chance that this will appreciate, if kept in pristine condition.
I´d say it´s a keeper!
There was a lengthy discussion about early Rapidos on the Atlas forum last year when we were trying to pinpoint the origins of self-propelled trains on 9 mm track. The Teble O Lectrics and Rapidos were both released originally in 1960, within a few months of each other. (hence my 50 years of N gauge Trains logo!)
The 1962 set you have would have been similar to these earlier runs, maybe the road names were different.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net