Product lead times are such that often, I’m surprised when something new arrives. When Rapido Trains announced back in December 2023 that it planned to do the Toronto Transit Commission’s first (G Series) subway cars, I placed an order, moved on to other things, and basically forgot about them.
So it was a real treat when they landed on my front porch a couple of months ago. Even better: The models exceeded my expectations – already rather high, given I’d grown up with the real things. The models are wonderful – and, as I’d hoped, a real kick in the nostalgia.
I’m amazed how just looking at these takes me back to my childhood. They evoke the sounds of flanged wheels negotiating the tightest of curves… the rumble of passing through switches at speed as the interior lights flickered… and the smell of tunnels filled with brake dust blowing through the opening windows. These were the sensations that formed the backdrop of my childhood – and Rapido has absolutely captured them in 1:87.
I shared my impressions of the models in a Test Track review which has now been published in the August, 2026 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine.
As I noted in my review, “Any trip worth taking included a subway ride, and this more than anything got me interested in railway modelling”. Now, I can relive that important part of my hobby journey each time I look at these models.
Well done, Rapido.
The Model Railway Show 