{"product_id":"preorder-rapido-ho-35051-ge-u25b-low-hood-milwaukee-road-5050","title":"PREORDER Rapido HO 35051 GE U25B Low Hood, Milwaukee Road #5050","description":"General Electric had long been touted as a company that supplied parts for other manufacturers. That would all change with GE's entry into a road-switcher market dominated by EMD and Alco. In the late 1950s, GE's engineers were developing a new V16 engine. What followed was the creation of the U25B road switcher. Available in both high-nose and low-nose variants, GE would sell over 450 U25Bs to a variety of Class I railroads. The U25B would pave the way for future Universal series locomotives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany U25Bs lasted into the early 1980s on some Class I railroads. A few ex-L\u0026amp;N versions would continue on to the early 1990s on CSX! A notable user of the U25B was Rock Island, which equipped a few of theirs with \"frog lights\" on the sides of the cab roof. These lights could alternate or shine steady. Get ready for a new run with new schemes on the popular U25B locomotive!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Rapido Trains HO Scale U25B Locomotive Features: \u003cbr\u003eImproved mesh grilles to be finer in appearance\u003cbr\u003eRevised exhaust stack (seen above)\u003cbr\u003eNewly-tooled, thinner end handrails\u003cbr\u003eRapido's innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions on the new phase 3 and 4 designs\u003cbr\u003eWorking step lights \u003cbr\u003eRevised AAR truck with separate lead springs and spinning bearings\u003cbr\u003eImproved front numberboard housing\u003cbr\u003eNew Phase IV units representing late U25Bs and early U28Bs\u003cbr\u003eWorking \"frog lights\" (Rock Island and MEC #225 and #228)\u003cbr\u003eBN with five-step stepwell\u003cbr\u003eSingle front window or new double front window\u003cbr\u003eBoth low and high-short hood versions\u003cbr\u003eFlat or new sloped low nose\u003cbr\u003eNew side sill mounted handrails on Phase IV units\u003cbr\u003eEarly high- and later low-style side doors\u003cbr\u003eRoad specific details for each model\u003cbr\u003eDifferent exhaust stacks (depending on roadname)\u003cbr\u003eRoad-specific battery box doors on engineer's side\u003cbr\u003eMoPower capacitor","brand":"Rapido","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42618546454591,"sku":"RPI-35051-PRE","price":25.66,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/7461\/7663\/files\/33549973445301_yzcb.jpg?v=1764020546","url":"https:\/\/factorydirecthobbies.com\/products\/preorder-rapido-ho-35051-ge-u25b-low-hood-milwaukee-road-5050","provider":"Factory Direct Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}