News & Products for the week of January 21st 2025
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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 21st, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Genesis 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $689.99; with DCC and sound, $789.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
4-8-8-4 Big Boy features:
- Adjustable top cab vent and cab windows
- Detailed boiler backhead with printed gauges
- Individually-applied detail parts, including brass-painted bell and whistle, piping, valves, generator, steps, air pump, air tanks, reverser, and coupler lift bar
- Also available in Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; NdeM; and Southern Ry. fantasy schemes.
Release date: August 2026
Road names: Union Pacific.
HO scale rolling stock
Athearn Genesis Pacific Car & Foundry 50-foot smooth side boxcar
Price: $49.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Pacific Car & Foundry 50-foot smooth side boxcar features:
- Separate wireform grab irons
- Etched metal coupler platforms
- Detailed underframe includes air brake reservoir, control valve, and brake cylinder
Release date: August 2026
Road names: Golden West Service, Southern Pacific, St. Louis Southwestern, and Union Pacific.
WalthersMainline American Car & Foundry 50-foot centerflow covered hopper
Price: $34.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
American Car Foundry 50-foot centerflow covered hopper features:
- Thin-profile roofwalk, stirrups, end ladders and platforms
- See-through running boards
- Trough or round hatches, per prototype
- Gravity or pneumatic gats, per prototype
- Also available undecorated, and in gray data-only scheme
Release date: Spring 2025
Road names: Archer Daniels Midland; Baltimore & Ohio; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Denver & Rio Grande Western; El Rexene Plastics; and Shell Chemical.
WalthersProto Grand Trunk Western-style 30-foot caboose
Price: $59.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Grand Trunk Western-style 30-foot caboose features:
- Separately-applied details include running board, grab irons, brake wheel, and smoke jack
- Detailed interior
- Leaf-spring arch-bar trucks
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Spring 2025
Road names: Burlington Northern, Canadian National, Denver & Rio Grande Western, Grand Trunk Western, and Western Pacific.
Rapido National Steel Car ballast hopper
Price: Single car, $59.95; three-pack, $179.85; six-pack, $359.70
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
National Steel Car ballast hopper features:
- Removable ballast load
- Die-cast frame
- Separate, factory-installed metal grab irons
- Multiple road numbers per scheme
- Also available unlettered in silver, yellow, and orange
Release date: Late 2025
Road names: Amtrak, British Columbia Rail, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Herzog, and Union Pacific.
HO scale details
WalthersScenemaster trackside workers
Price: $19.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Trackside workers features:
- Six modern-era figures included
- Safety clips and thread to simulate cable included
Release date: Spring 2025
N scale locomotives
Bachmann Siemens SC-44 Charger diesel-electric locomotive
Price: $459
Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com
Siemens SC-44 Charger features:
- Interior corridor work lights
- Siemens-approved design
Release date: Available now
Road names: Altamont Corridor Express, Amtrak, and North County Transit District Coaster.
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 e-mail Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bryson.sleppy@firecrown.com for more information.
