Locomotives and rolling stock
Lionel has announced a 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex locomotive as part of its VisionLine series. Features include operation in Legacy, TMCC, or conventional mode; Bluetooth control; Lionel Voice Control; Odyssey II Speed Control; rear ElectroCoupler, Legacy Railsounds, tender smoke unit, and much more. The engines will be available in 11 road names (Erie No. 2603, 2431010; Erie No. 5014, 2431020; Erie No. 5015, 2431030; Erie No. 5016, 2431040; Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 1090, 2431050; Northern Pacific No. 4050, 2431060; Virginian No. 701, 2431070; Halloween 2431090, Pilot 2431080; and an LCCA exclusive in Lionel Lines). Price: $2,499.99. Visit lionel.com for more information.
Menards has released an O gauge starter set in a Union Pacific paint scheme (2759203). The set includes a locomotive, a caboose with lights, a wireless remote control, 8 sections of O-36 tubular track, 1 section of 10″ straight track, 1 section of 10″ straight track with power connection, and an 18-volt power adaptor. The engine features two motors, lights, and sound with an on/off switch located on the underside. Price: $249. Website: menards.com/trains
Menards offers an O gauge flatcar with two 1:48 scale Army trucks. The car measures 14 ¾” inches long with all-wood composite deck and diecast couplers. Each car is uniquely numbered. Price: $39.99. A four-pack is also available for $139.96. Order from Menards.com/trains.
Ready-Made-Trains (RMT) has released 36-foot wood sided refrigerator cars in 38 road names. They operate on O-31 curves, have underframe details, and have different road numbers for each railroad. Price: $34.95. To learn more and see available road names, visit readymadetoys.com
The S scale International Car Co. wide-cupola caboose, originally produced by S-Helper Service, is back under the ScaleTrains banner. Road names include Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Burlington Northern; Chesapeake & Ohio; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago & North Western; CSX; Great Northern; Missouri-Kansas-Texas; and Reading Co. The ready-to-run caboose ($59.99) is offered in one to three numbers per paint scheme; an undecorated version is also available. Product features include light-emitting-diode illuminated markers and interior; sprung, die-cast metal trucks; and metal handrails and end ladders. The model, which has a minimum radius of 20 inches, is equipped with American Flyer-compatible wheels and knuckle couplers. Scale code 110 wheels and Kadee-compatible scale couplers are included. To learn more, call 844-987-2467 or visit scaletrains.com
A United States Railroad Administration 40-foot rebuilt steel boxcar joins the growing lineup of S scale products from ScaleTrains. The boxcar, part of the company’s S-Helper Service line, is decorated for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Atlantic Coast Line; Charleston & Western Carolina; Chicago & North Western; Detroit, Toledo & Ironton; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Rock Island; and St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) in one or two road numbers per scheme. The model, priced at $54.99, is also available undecorated with Andrews or Bettendorf trucks. The boxcar has movable doors, metal handrails and grab irons, and a detailed brake system. From the packaging the model has American Flyer-compatible wheels and knuckle couplers. Scale code 110 wheels and Kadee-compatible scale couplers are included. Check out scaletrains.com to see all the paint schemes.
New from ScaleTrains is this S scale two-bay, peaked-end fishbelly hopper. Road names include Atlantic Coast Line, Chesapeake & Ohio, Lehigh Valley, Norfolk & Western, Reading Co., and Western Maryland. The hopper, priced at $54.99, is available in two to four numbers per scheme; an undecorated version is also available. Features on the former S-Helper Service car include a plastic body, factory-applied brake wheel, and detailed brake system. The car is fitted with American Flyer-compatible wheels and knuckle couplers and has a minimum radius of 20 inches. Scale code 110 wheels and Kadee-compatible scale couplers are included. Visit scaletrains.com for additional information.
Books and media
New York Central Chatham Crossing is available from Silverlake Images LLC. This 80-page all color book looks at NYC operations in and around the Chatham, N.Y. area from 1955-2007. Price: $50 To order, call Ron’s Books at 914-967-7541 or visit ronsbooks.com
Jersey Central’s Baldwin Roadswitchers is now available from Steel Road Press. This 72-page book has photos and diagrams related to the road’s fleet of RS12s, and explains why they were purchased and the service they provided over the years. Price: $40. Order from your favorite hobby retailer.
Classic Toy Trains contributor Lou Palumbo has Seventy is Not So Good … Unless it’s Your Golf Score! The 154-page softcover book from Windy City Publications looks at the advantages and shortcomings of turning 70 years of age while providing toy train hobbyists with a 
return to the Views From The Underground penned by Lou over the past five years. Priced at $14.99, the book can be ordered from the publisher or by going to Amazon.com
Alco Locomotives Volume 2: Locomotive Parts is from the growing lineup of catalog reprints published by SilverLake Images LLC. The book, which is a reprint from a section of Alco catalog 10057, includes small switchers, tank engines, Consolidations, Mikados, and more. The majority of the catalog includes drawings showing the various components from these engines, such as ash pans, boilers, main and side rods, and tender frames, among other items. The 108-page softcover book is priced at $35. To order, visit ronsbooks.com or call 914-967-7541.
Check out illustrations and specifications for various freight and passenger cars in Magor & National Railroad Cars, the latest offering from SilverLake Images LLC. The 76-page softcover book ($35) is a reprint of a catalog from Magor Car Corp. and National Steel Car Corp. Among the car types included are banana cars, boxcars, cane cars, coal hoppers, refrigerator cars, and various passenger equipment produced for domestic and foreign use. Order by phone at 914-967-7541 or shop online at ronsbooks.com
Arthur Koppel Narrow Gauge Railway Materials is a recent addition to the Manufacturers’ Catalog Archive from SilverLake Images LLC. The book is a reproduction of a 1901 Arthur Koppel catalog. Inside you’ll find information on rails and rail-related equipment, turnouts, frogs, dump cars, log cars, boxcars, ore cars, and passenger equipment. In addition, there are illustrations of many of the cars and photos showing how they were used in various industries. The 86-page softcover book is priced at $35. Contact Ron’s Books to order (ronsbooks.com or 914-967-7541).
News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more. Model railroad product news may include HO, N, O, S, and Z scales. Product release dates and prices will vary according to each manufacturer.
If you are a manufacturer and have new product releases, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cgrivno@kalmbach.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bsleppy@kalmbach.com for more information.
