Introducing the complete Phase III GE 4-axle Dash-7 collection from Rapido! It’s a mess, and that is how GE made it. In late 1976, GE introduced the Dash-7 line, which consisted of dozens of internal updates to its Universal series model range. The most obvious external changes are that all Dash-7 models have a wider section of the hood ahead of the radiators, and feature protruding wings for the radiator section.

Like the C36-7, other changes to the 4-axle Dash-7 were made incrementally. The six-axle Dash-7’s always retained the same wheelbase, while the four-axle models feature not one, but three wheelbases identified in three phases which apply to each model.

In production by GE from 1977-1984,

B23-7: GE 12-cylinder FDL diesel engine rated at 2250 HP
B30-7: GE 16-cylinder FDL diesel engine rated at 3000 HP
B30-7A/AB: GE 12-cylinder FDL diesel engine rated at 3000 HP
B36-7: GE 7FDL 16-cylinder diesel engine rated at 3600, 3700 or later 3750 HP

Identifying phase features of the B23-7 and B30-7:

Phase I:

Overall length of 62’ 2”, and truck centers of 36’2 2”.
These truck centers are the same as the predecessor universal models, but those had a shorter overall frame.

Phase II

Same 62’ 2” overall length but change to wider truck centers of 37’ 2” by shifting the rear truck backwards, eliminating the space between the stepwell and truck at the rear.

Phase III

Our Dash-7 series in this release covers the Phase III models.
Overall length is a foot shorter – 61’ 2”
Truck centers 36’ 8”. Visually, this gives the appearance of the trucks being balanced and centered, without major gaps at the end.

Phase III design features begin in 1981, and additional orders for B23-7’s (MP, NdeM, Southern, Santa Fe and B30-7’s (Chessie/C&O) were built with the revised design features. ATSF, MP, and Southern units are defined most by their road-specific order details. 


HO Scale B23-7, B30-7, B30-7A Locomotives features:

“Phase III” details for the wide variety of Dash-7 4-axle models
Headlights and rear lights
Tri-color class lights (where applicable)
Ditch lights (where applicable)
Lit numberboards
Walkway Lights
Step lights
Full traction motor casing details
Rotating bearing caps
Metal brake chain on engineer’s side
Detailed underbody piping and conduit
Separate grab irons
Rapido’s innovative dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
Detailed cab interior
Lighted control stand
Heavy, die-cast weight for heavy hauling
5-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels
Sound-equipped units feature ESU LokSound V5 decoders
Many road specific details – see table

Suggested minimum radius: 18"

Road Specific Details

NdeM B23-7:


The largest active group of Phase III 4-axle Dash-7 units are B23-7’s in Mexico, originally ordered by NdeM. Our model features the distinctive lower-capacity fuel tanks that this massive fleet came with, as well as ditch lights and etched metal rock guards on the window. In daily service, many of these units still wear Ferrosur paint and can be found on local, yard, and industry operations.

A very special addition is Ferromex 2501, which has been upgraded and assigned to the executive train. Our model features unique communications equipment details added to the real unit.



NS B23-7

In our first run, we are making NS and Lhoist units with a whole host of Southern-specific details that they retain to this day. Both offerings come with front and rear ditchlights that reflect their original configuration as LHF units, with the horn and bell on the rear. They also have (dummy) walkway lights, high short hoods, knuckle boxes, open cutouts in the walkways near the steps, and more. In 2026, Lhoist 4021 and 4023 are still working in an appealing paint scheme hauling cement.



Chesapeake and Ohio/Chessie B30-7:


Chessie ordered 20 Phase III B30-7’s featuring a distinctly Chessie look - AAR Type-B trucks and rock pilots. The same 20 units went to CSX yet end up looking so different that it is hard to tell. CSX swapped the trucks to FB-2’s, blanked the class lights, added ditch lights to both ends, and added electronic fuel gauges and air dryers. One of these units, Minnesota Commercial #49, is still in active service on the railroad with the same features.



Chesapeake and Ohio/Chessie B30-7:


Chessie ordered 20 Phase III B30-7’s featuring a distinctly Chessie look - AAR Type-B trucks and rock pilots. The same 20 units went to CSX yet end up looking so different that it is hard to tell. CSX swapped the trucks to FB-2’s, blanked the class lights, added ditch lights to both ends, and added electronic fuel gauges and air dryers. One of these units, Minnesota Commercial #49, is still in active service on the railroad with the same features.


Minnesota Commercial B30-7 & B36-7:


Most B36-7’s were built from 1981 onwards and feature Phase III specs except 4 early units delivered to the SSW in 1980 (these were essentially B30-7s with B36-7 internals). To celebrate America’s 250th, this release includes Minnesota Commercial #76, which was repainted in an America 250 scheme in late 2025. This B36-7 model comes with all the upgraded features of this project like step lights, walkway lights, rotating bearing caps and correct CSX style step wells.



Missouri Pacific B30-7A:


GE made another new model once Phase III features were in place: the B30-7A. By this point, GE had found that the 2,300hp 12-cylinder FDL engine used in U23B’s and B23-7’s could be uprated to 3,000hp, offering the B30-7’s horsepower with better fuel economy. Missouri Pacific tested uprating 3 of their B23-7’s to 3,000hp and liked them so much they ordered 55 B30-7A models in 1981-1982. These often ran in sets of three on hot trains across their system. Southern also ordered 22 B30-7A1 units built on a slightly longer frame.



BN Cabless B30-7AB:


Finally, we arrive at what modelers have been waiting for: BN B30-7A’s. Or are they B30-7AB’s? B30-7B’s? Some goofy nickname you’ve heard? To GE, despite completely lacking a cab, bell, or horn, there are also a B30-7A: because they are a 3,000 hp 12-cylinder model. In the cashed strapped 80’s BN saw the price of a large locomotive order without cabs and though the savings were worth it. (Crews may vehemently disagree!)


BN ordered the units in two batches. The first 53 units in 1982 were as if a usual 4-axle Dash-7 forgot to have a cab, with blank space where it would be. Originally, they came with 4 grilles on the rear, which 2 of our numbers will offer. By the late 80’s, those grilles had been updated the common 7-grille arrangement, which our other two numbers will offer. The second order for 67 units in 1983 came with some entirely unique features reflecting their late build date. The dynamic brake section was raised to accommodate different equipment, identical to a design on a small, specific batch of NS C36-7’s also had. Similarly, the 7-grille arrangement in the rear is also like those late-production C36-7’s, two large horizontal stacked panels instead of one.

No matter which cabless unit you order, they were essential, unavoidable power on BN in the 80’s and 90’s. Countless intermodal, manifest, and non-coal unit trains across the system would feature whatever unit with a cab leading, with cabless B’s trailing – often as the only trailing power. Despite lacking a cab, bell, and horn, these still have complete lighting and working tri-color class lights!


B30-7A | Road Numbers: 4053-4119

Phase III B30-7A with a 3,000hp 12-cylinder engine
Correct 12-cylinder FDL sound file for sound equipped models
Six tall hood doors for the 12-cylinder engine
4053-4119: built in 1983, raised dynamic brake section
No cab, no horn, no bell
4053-4119: Rear with unique 7-grille arrangement
Raised rear numberboards
Lower rear class lights
Front class lights
Tall bathtub exhaust
Rockwell FB-2 truck frames with large casting holes.
Rotating Timken bearings