Description
Pre-Order Due Date: TBA
_________
Pre-Order FAQ
Most manufacturers give an ETA on when they expect to release the pre-order which can be seen near the "add to cart" button on the product page. They also give an order due date (found in the product description) which is indicative of when the product is expected to go into production.
There is a 5% NON-refundable deposit for preorders, this amount will be deducted from the price of the product when it arrives. You will see how much downpayment is required after adding the item to your cart. We do not store your payment information and it is not charged by us when the product arrives.
For any pre-order submitted after the due date, we will try our best to fulfill your pre-order, but are at the mercy of the manufacturer and if they produce more than were preordered by their dealers. If we cannot fulfill your pre-order we will credit the 5% deposit to you.
When the pre-ordered product(s) are available to ship, you will receive an email requesting the remaining 95% payment that will take you to your cart. It is at this point you are asked for shipping address and method OR in-store pickup.. We will never charge your payment method without you checking out. At this time you are also able to add other in-stock items if you wish.
Please note that Estimated Arrival Dates can change at any point. Midwest Model Railroad is not responsible for manufacturers delaying production. Visit midwestmodelrr.com/pre-orders/ for more information.
_________

The FL9 was a critical locomotive for operations out of Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Originally operated on the former New Haven lines the fleet’s operating area spread under Penn Central and Conrail/MTA to include the former New York Central lines north along the Hudson River.
With no direct replacements on the horizon, in the 1980s the decision was made to rebuild and upgrade many of the original FL9s. Rebuilding typically included the addition of HEP (Head End Power) to replace the older steam heat boilers, as well as upgraded braking systems and electronics. These rebuilds were done in several batches for Metro North and Amtrak.
Notable among these rebuilt units were those which were sold to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and were rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen in 1984-85. Owned by ConnDot, they were operated by Metro North. The units re-entered service wearing their original “New Haven” black, white and red livery. These feature a different HEP fan arrangement and nearly flat rear-end.
The Rapido Steam Generator FL9 Locomotives feature:
- Rooftop pantograph for EDER-5 units in polybag
- Groovy Hancock Airchime with deflector on front and without on the rear
- Steam generator details (EDER-5 and EDER-5a)
- Underframe third rail gear with iconic “red bar” bolted to truck sideframes
- Classic McGinnis paint with the white stripe below the grilles
- Short, long or no cab grab irons (as appropriate per roadnumber and model)
The Rapido HEP FL9 Locomotives feature:
- Morrison-Knudsen or Chrome Crankshaft body details
- M-K 48” HEP fan or Chrome Crankshaft dual fans
- Modernized underbody components
- Front and rear MU and HEP receptacles
- Operating ditch lights on HEP box
- HEP box without ditch lights in polybag
- CDOT units feature Leslie RS5T with protective cones
- HEP-equipped Metro-North units feature Nathan K5LA
- Extra horn castings in polybag (Leslie RS-2M/Hancock Airchime)
All Rapido FL9 Locomotives feature:
- Correct dual-beam headlight
- Heavy diecast frame
- Standard DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
- Suggested minimum radius: 18"

A pair of HEP-equipped FL9s leads a commuter train into a station.
Below, we see four more FL9s on commuter runs side by side.
All taken on the The Model Railroad Club layout in Union, NJ. Photos courtesy of Ben Martin.






Details
Scale: |
HO Scale |
Road Name: |
New Haven (NH) |
Version: |
(DCC and Sound) |
Road Number: |
2040 (EDER-5a) |
Locomotive Model: |
EMD FL9 |
