Product news
Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of August 5, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division SD38 diesel locomotive. Bessemer & Lake Erie (orange and black, three road numbers [one in Primed for Grime line]); Cando Rail Service (black and red, two numbers); Conrail (“Quality” scheme, two numbers); Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (orange and black, three numbers [one in Primed for Grime line]); Grand Trunk Western (blue and orange, two numbers; DT&I patchout [Primed for Grime], one number); Norfolk Southern (Conrail “Quality” patchouts [Primed for Grime], two numbers); and Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern (2009 repaint and 20th anniversary schemes, one number each). Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons, light-emitting-diode lighting, and McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $169.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Econami sound decoder, $239.99 (add $10 for Primed for Grime models). September 2022. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Alco Century 424 and 425 diesel locomotives. Re-issue. C-424 (Phase II): Morristown & Erie. New road numbers. C-424: Green Bay & Western (Phase I and II, two numbers each), Delaware-Lackawanna (Phase II, one number), Erie Lackawanna (Phase I, three numbers), and Minnesota Commercial (Phase II, three numbers). C-425 (Phase II): BC Rail (three numbers) and Delaware-Lackawanna (two numbers). Also available undecorated (Phase I and II C-424 and Phase II C-425). Factory-installed grab irons, ladders, and drop steps; two painted crew figures; and Accumate couplers. Direct-current model with 8-pin plug for Digital Command Control decoder, $169.95; with dual-mode ESU LokSound Select sound decoder, $279.95. Classic Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com
HO scale freight cars
Milwaukee, Racine & Troy 2,970-cubic-foot-capacity American Car & Foundry two-bay Center Flow covered hopper kit. One road number. Limited-run injection-molded plastic kit (era: October 1985+) with one-piece body; separate underbody with two-piece outlet gates; individual stirrup steps and screw-mounted draft-gear box covers; modeler-installed air reservoir, brake cylinder, control valve, brake wheel, chain fulcrum, and crossover platforms; roller-bearing trucks with Delrin engineering plastic wheelsets; Accumate couplers; screws; and steel weight. $24.99. Produced by Accurail exclusively for the Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com
Procor 5,820-cubic-foot-capacity four-bay plastic pellet covered hopper. BF Goodrich (gray with red and blue lettering, single car and three-pack), Dow Chemical (gray), Procor (gray with blue lettering in two versions and gray with black lettering in three versions), Essex Hybrid (gray, single car and three-pack), and Union Carbide (gray with Procor lettering and Union Carbide placard). Each road name offered as single car and six-pack unless noted; also available ready-to-run but undecorated. Separate, factory-applied grab irons; etched-metal running boards and crossover platforms; two styles of trucks; and three styles of roof hatches. Single car, $54.95; three-pack, $164.85; six-pack, $389.70. Rapido Trains, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
N scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division F59PHI diesel locomotive. Amtrak (“Be Track Smart” in one road number and as-delivered and Amtrak California schemes), Metra (Chicago & North Western, Milwaukee Road, and Rock Island heritage schemes, one number each), North Carolina Department of Transportation, and Metrolink. Two numbers per scheme unless noted. All-wheel electrical pickup, light-emitting-diode lighting, and McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current model, $149.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $249.99. September 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
N scale freight cars
National Steel Car 53-foot 17-post well car. Canadian Pacific (Oxide Red) and TTX (yellow class NWF13 with three silver stripes, three yellow stripes [single car and two-pack], and eight yellow stripes). One number per paint scheme unless noted. Die-cast metal body; painted etched stainless steel end grabs, stirrup steps, and see-through walkways; Micro-Trains 100-ton pin-mounted trucks; and body-mounted Magne-Matic couplers. In addition to Jacksonville Terminal containers, car will handle 53-foot containers from Atlas Model Railroad Co., Deluxe Innovations, Kato USA Inc., Micro-Trains Line Co., and ScaleTrains.com, plus 48-foot containers from Deluxe Innovations and Micro-Trains. Single car, $44.95; two-pack, $88.95. Jacksonville Terminal Co., jtcmodeltrains.com
N scale passenger cars
Southern Pacific 1950 Cascade coach. Two-tone gray scheme. Injection-molded plastic with painted molded grab irons on the sides, sprung diaphragms, metal wheels, plastic interior, and truck-mounted couplers. Two-pack, $89. RailSmith Models, lowellsmith.net/railsmith
N scale structures
Controlled Entry Kiosks. Six paint schemes. Factory-assembled and painted. Injection-molded plastic with curb island and kiosk, gate cabinet, positionable gate, and camera tree. For use at truck and train terminals, military facilities, office and industrial parks, and more. Three-pack, $36.95. Jacksonville Terminal Co., jtcmodeltrains.com
N scale details and accessories
40-foot high-cube intermodal container. New paint scheme: ZIM (The Z Factor scheme). Injection-molded plastic with inter-box connecting pins at scale ISO locations and JTC magnetic connecting system (three magnets on top, metal plates on bottom). Two-pack, $29.95. Jacksonville Terminal Co., jtcmodeltrains.com
O scale structures
Margie’s Macchiatos Coffee Shop. Injection-molded plastic kit with snap-together main parts, second floor bay window, and waterslide decals with various nameplates. Measures 9-3/4” x 5-1/4” x 8. $72.50. Fourth quarter 2021. Atlas O Hillside Structure line. Atlas O, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com
Steve’s Music Store. Injection-molded plastic kit with snap-together main parts, inset front door, and waterslide decals with various nameplates. Measures 9-3/4” x 5-1/4” x 8. $72.50. Fourth quarter 2021. Atlas Hillside Structure line. Atlas O, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com
Tools
Model 441 thread and cord scissors. Soft grip handles, Light-Touch return spring, and one serrated griping edge for holding threads, cords, and yarns. Ideal for cutting elastic cord, thread, nylon beading thread, yarn, and other materials. $20.25. Xuron Corp., 207-283-1401, xuron.com
Books
Los Angeles Railway. Book compares vintage images from the Mount Lowe Preservation Society collection to corresponding contemporary locations. Softcover, 96 pages. 160 color photos. $23.99. Past & Present series. Arcadia Publishing, 888-313-2665, arcadiapublishing.com
Baldwin-Westinghouse: Vol. 1, Electric Locomotives. Reproduction of two brochures on Baldwin-Westinghouse Electric Locomotives. Baldwin-Westinghouse Electric Mine Locomotives details the mining locomotive built by the company. Includes a look at the mechanical construction of the locomotives, electrical equipment, gathering locomotives, and performance. Baldwin-Westinghouse Standard Electric Locomotives examines engines designed for freight operations. Details the advantages of electric locomotives in freight service, their mechanical and electrical components, and more. Softcover, 108 pages. $35. Manufacturers’ Catalog Archive series. SilverLake Images LLC and Ron’s Books, 914-967-7541, ronsbooks.com
Ohio Locomotive Crane Company. Includes the undated catalog Locomotive Cranes, which details the components that make up cranes and their mechanisms, photos of different crane models, and drawings of different cranes and accessories. Booklet Handbook on the Care and Operation of Ohio Locomotive Cranes covers how to operate and maintain cranes. Softcover, 104 pages. $35. Manufacturers’ Catalog Archive series. SilverLake Images LLC and Ron’s Books, 914-967-7541, ronsbooks.com
