Model Railroading > Rapido G22 Gondola

I received my PRR G22 today from my dealer. It's a beauty. The bridge is a scratch-built replica of the Wabash RR, Lagro, Indiana Bridge that no longer exists on NS. I have more work to do on it but am working on getting all my backdrop and fascia up, once and for all.


Victor Baird



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/25 10:26 by wabash2800.

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For those of you that haven't seen the bridge overall, here is another photo I posted on Trainorders a while back. The prototype built piers for two tracks but it was always single track. I have a siding here, so built the bridge for two tracks. I need to get back to my bridges but want to get all the backdrop and fascia up first. From the bench-work height, you can't tell there is a siding, so it looks like the single-track version. (I had to narrow the abutment on the left, however, as didn't have enough room.)

Victor Baird



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/25 10:48 by wabash2800.

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Nice bridge. Is the long span concrete? I'd guess so given the depth and the center pier. Who makes the baggage car? Almost looks like an Athearn with new roof vents.

I have a few Rapido H21's on the way. Looking forward to receiving them.

Yes, the prototype is concrete except for the steel beams on the right. The Wabash was known for pioneering in concrete bridge construction, starting in the early 1900s. (There are still plenty of them out there, large and small)  I made the piers, abutments and concrete deck from Hydro-Cal and temporary molds, and the steel beams were made from plastruct shapes. I also used decal rivets. I don't' know if the bridge ever had the Wabash name on it, but it paralleled old 24, so it's possible. It could have been painted black too, but many Wabash deck and plate girder bridges were silver.

NS replaced all the spans on this bridge a few years ago with ballasted, steel deck girders. Yes, the baggage car is an Athearn that someone detailed and put on eBay. I guess it didn't meet their expectations. I have a number of heavyweight passenger cars I need to paint and decal.

Lagro is a great place to watch trains. There is a siding west of the bridge and a favorite place for dispatchers to stage meets, IMO. The Wabash depot is long gone but a former interurban station/substation still exists.

I would like to pick up some of the PRR H21s too. There were a bunch of the Rapido H21s on eBay for sale from a dealer in Canada below list price and now they are gone.

Victor Baird



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/25 12:56 by wabash2800.

I got my H21's from Lombard Hobbies. They usually have pretty attractive pricing.