Trainfest 2007 show report

Trainfest was held November 10-11, 2007, at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee. The two-day show featured more than 130 vendors and manufacturers, 58 model railroad layouts, and 25 clinicians and demonstrations. Attendance for Trainfest was 20,979, a record for the show.

HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division MP15AC. Preproduction samples shown. Soo Line, Milwaukee Road, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and undecorated. Five-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels; directional, constant lighting; see-through screens; and Celcon handrails. Without sound $129.98, with dual-mode control and sound system $229.98. Ready-to-run. Genesis series. Athearn Trains

Norfolk & Western class J 4-8-4 steam locomotive. Norfolk & Western no. 611. Features Digital Command Control, operating headlight, separately applied metal parts, RP-25 contour metal wheelsets, and magnetic knuckle couplers. $235. Spectrum series. Bachmann Trains

Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe. Ferromex. Factory-painted brass model with operating headlights and ditch lights. Three road numbers. $940. Overland Models, Inc.

Pennsylvania RR class I1sa 2-10-0 steam locomotive. Five-pole can motor with dual flywheels; plastic and die-cast metal construction; detailed backhead; positionable cab roof vents; constant, directional lighting; and painted crew figures in cab. Without sound $299.99; with LokSound dual-mode control and sound system $399.99. Ready-to-run. Precision Craft Models

Electro-Motive Division GP7 and GP9 diesel locomotives. Preproduction samples shown. GP9s painted for Soo Line; Cedar Rapids & Iowa City; Chicago & North Western; Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern; Iowa Interstate; and Ohio Central. GP7s decorated for North Central Texas; Algoma Central; Iowa Interstate; Toledo, Peoria & Western; and Ohio Central. Both locomotives available undecorated. Five-pole skew-wound motor with brass flywheels, die-cast metal chassis, RP-25 contour metal wheelsets, and magnetic knuckle couplers. Direct current $124.98, with Digital Command Control and QSI Quantum sound system $224.98. Ready-to-run. Proto 2000 from Walthers

HO scale freight cars
McCabe fire train. Three-car set (firefighting, water, and tool cars). Laser-cut basswood and plywood kits with brass, plastic, and white-metal detail castings; interior bracing; and archbar trucks. $159.95. Add-on water car $49.95. B.T.S.

United States Military RR 25′-10″ conductor’s car. Laser-cut wood and cardstock kit with plastic and lost-wax brass details, interior bracing, floor detail, and positionable doors but no trucks, couplers, or decals. $24.95. B.T.S.

Milwaukee Road 40-foot ribbed-side boxcar. Milwaukee Road (Route of the Hiawathas slogan and late scheme with billboard lettering). Injection-molded plastic with wire grab irons and Kadee magnetic knuckle couplers. Six road numbers per scheme. $29.95 (undecorated kit $18.95). November-December 2007. Ready-to-run. InterMountain Railway Co.

PS-1 50-foot cushion-underframe boxcar. Preproduction samples shown. Model features sprung draft-gear box, separate ladders, detailed underbody, and door gusset detail. Price and road names to be announced. Mid 2008. Kadee Quality Products Co.

Gunderson Maxi-IV double-stack well car. Three-unit articulated set. Plastic and steel construction, brake detail, and Kato magnetic knuckle couplers. $80. Ready-to-run. Kato USA, Inc.

PS-2CD 4,740-cubic-foot-capacity covered hopper. New paint scheme is Union Pacific. Wire grab irons, brake piping, Kadee scale metal couplers, and 100-ton N-11 trucks with metal wheelsets. $42.95, six-pack $236.99, and twelve-pack $469.99. Ready-to-run. Tangent Scale Models

HO scale passenger cars
National Steel Car Co. 73′-6″ smooth-side baggage-express car. Preproduction sample shown. Amtrak (phase 3); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (silver); Canadian National (1954 scheme); Erie; Erie-Lackawanna; Great Northern; Missouri Pacific (Jenks Blue); New York Central (two-tone gray); Northern Pacific; Pennsylvania RR; Southern Pacific (dark gray); Union Pacific; VIA Rail; and undecorated. More underbody piping than previous cars, separate hand brake chains, battery-operated interior lighting, operating baggage doors that open and close with supplied magnetic wand, 41-BNO-11 or 41-N-11 trucks to match prototype, factory-installed and painted wire grab irons and stirrup steps, detailed interior, sprung diaphragms with end bars, and separate marker lamps. $59.95. Ready-to-run. Rapido Trains

HO scale passenger trains
United Aircraft Corp. TurboTrain. Preproduction sample shown. Amtrak (early and late schemes); Canadian National; New York, New Haven & Hartford/Department of Transportation; Penn Central; and VIA Rail. Two powered, dual-mode sound-equipped locomotives; sound controller for direct-current layouts; operating headlights, taillights, and Gyralites; constant interior lighting; and prototype-specific interior and exterior detail. Minimum radius 18″ without diaphragms, 24″ with diaphragms. Three-unit train (two locomotives and one intermediate car) $499.95; separate intermediate cars $39.95. Fall 2007. Rapido Trains

HO scale trolley car
San Francisco Muni F-Line Presidents Conference Committee trolley car. Preproduction sample shown. Injection-molded plastic body with Bowser drive. Available with and without sound. Price and additional information to be announced. Ready-to-run. Bowser

HO scale details and accessories
Assorted vehicles. 1908 Austro-Daimler 28/35 ($16.95), Miracle Bakery American walk-in delivery van ($16.95), and 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited ($15.95). Produced by Masterpiece Automotive Replicas, distributed by Atlas Model Railroad Co.

Cold storage platform. Laser-cut wood. For use with Athearn 20-foot refrigerated intermodal container (not included). $9.99. GC Laser

53-foot intermodal containers. Burlington Northern Santa Fe and EMP. Injection-molded plastic with magnetic plates in base to hold container secure in well. Two-pack $24. Kato USA, Inc.

Track cleaning car. Dual high-torque electric geared motors and pressure-sensitive cleaning disks (with peel-and-stick pads). Ex-Roundhouse 50-foot hi-cube boxcar. Direct current $99, Digital Command Control $149. Many New Products

Assorted vehicles. 1937 ambulance, 1941 Willys coupe, 1937 Willys coupe, 1937 Willys sedan, 1941 Nash coupe, and 1941 Nash sedan. Resin kits with hollow one-piece body, detailed interior, and rubber tires. $12.95. Sylvan Scale Models

Great Lakes lumber hooker. Langell Boys. Cast-polyurethane resin kit with one-piece hull, detailed wheelhouse interior, and decals. 21″ (152 scale feet). $169.95. Sylvan Scale Models

N scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division E9 A and B units. New production run with white light-emitting-diode headlights and illuminated number boxes on the A units and body-mounted Kato magnetic knuckle couplers on both the A and B units. A units (nos. 951 and 956) and B unit (no. 951B) $95 each. Ready-to-run. Kato USA, Inc.

Southern Pacific class GS-4 4-8-4 steam locomotive. New road number (4453). Split-frame mechanism, electrical pickup from drivers and tender wheels, directional headlight, simulated Mars light, and illuminated number boxes. $198. Ready-to-run. Kato USA, Inc.

N scale freight cars
Two-bay offset-side hopper. Preproduction sample shown. Injection-molded plastic with magnetic knuckle couplers, plastic wheelsets, and coal load. Price and road names to be announced. Ready-to-run. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co.

1944 Association of American Railroads 40-foot boxcars. Illinois Central ($19.95, two-pack $39.90) and Pennsylvania RR ($20.50, two-pack $41). With Micro-Trains trucks and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. Ready-to-run. DeLuxe Innovations

1944 Association of American Railroads 40-foot boxcars. United States Air Force, Prisoner of War/Missing in Action, and United States Navy. With Micro-Trains trucks and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. $29.95. Ready-to-run. Military Honors Series. DeLuxe Innovations

Two-bay exterior-post covered hopper. Spokane International ($16.95), Wabash ($15.55), and Missouri-Kansas-Texas (factory weathered two-pack $39.95). Micro-Trains trucks and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. Ready-to-run. DeLuxe Innovations

Gunderson Maxi-Stack III well car. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. Five-unit articulated car. Die-cast metal bodies, stainless steel platforms, plastic brake detail, Micro-Trains trucks, and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. $94.95. Ready-to-run. DeLuxe Innovations

Pullman-Standard 5,344-cubic-foot-capacity boxcar. Delaware & Hudson, Boston & Maine, Chicago & North Western, Apalachicola Northern, Rock Island, and Texas Mexican Ry. Injection-molded plastic model with etched-metal crosswalks, Micro-Trains trucks and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. Four road numbers per road name. $15.95 each. March-April 2008. Ready-to-run. Fox Valley Models

Trinity RD-4 coal hopper. Norfolk Southern, BNSF Ry., and Chicago & North Western. Injection-molded plastic model with Micro-Trains trucks and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. Twenty-four road numbers per scheme. $18.95 each. March-April 2008. Ready-to-run. Fox Valley Models

60-foot flatcar. Southern Ry.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Burlington Northern; Louisville & Nashville; Trailer Train; and Union Pacific. Die-cast metal body with simulated wood deck planks. Price to be announced. January-February 2008. Ready-to-run. InterMountain Railway Co.

N scale passenger cars
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Budd-built Navajo lightweight observation car. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Amtrak (phases 3 and 4); Atlantic Coast Line; Baltimore & Ohio; Canadian Pacific; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Florida East Coast; Pennsylvania RR; Southern Ry.; Union Pacific; VIA Rail; and undecorated. Injection-molded plastic model. $29.98 (with Micro-Trains magnetic knuckle couplers $35.48). Con-Cor International

Union Pacific lightweight smooth-side passenger cars. Set A features baggage, coach, dining, and dome cars. Set B includes Railway Post Office, dome, sleeper, and observation cars. Car names and numbers to be announced. Four-pack $100. Ready-to-run. Kato USA, Inc.

N scale details and accessories
True-Track. With painted injection-molded plastic roadbed and code 65 nickel silver rail. Available in 2″ and 6″ straight sections, 11″ and 12-1/2″ radius curves, and 12-1/2″ left- and right-hand turnouts. Prices to be announced. Atlas Model Railroad Co.

40-foot dual-logo panel intermodal containers. TransOcean, “K” Line, Wan Hai, and Showa. Two-packs $11.95 to $12.95 each. DeLuxe Innovations

40-foot hi-cube exterior-post intermodal containers. Hyundai (two-pack $12.95) and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (two-pack $11.50). DeLuxe Innovations

40-foot refrigerated intermodal containers. GE Seaco (two-pack $13.95) and Matson (two-pack $9.95).

45-foot exterior-post intermodal container. CMA CGM. Two-pack $11.45. DeLuxe Innovations

53-foot Wabash National DuraPlate trailers. Vermont Ry. and Interstate Distribution Co. Injection-molded plastic. Two trailer numbers per scheme. $14.95. DeLuxe Innovations

RoadRailer plate-wall trailer. Swift. With CouplerMate rail bogie. $14.15. Ready-to-run. DeLuxe Innovations

O scale locomotives
Baldwin outside-frame 2-8-0 Consolidation. On2-1/2. Pocahontas Lumber Co., Colorado Mining Co., Little River Logging Co., Midwest Quarry & Mining Co., and painted black but unlettered. Digital Command Control; five-pole skew-wound motor; die-cast metal chassis, boiler, and tender frame; spoked, solid, or outside-bearing lead trucks as appropriate; operating headlight; and separately applied detail parts. $245. Spectrum series. Bachmann Trains

O scale freight cars
United States Railroad Administration 55-ton hopper with extended panel sides. Rock Island, Central Vermont, Delaware & Hudson, and New York Central. $57.95. Limited edition two-pack (Pennsylvania RR and New York, New Haven & Hartford) $115.95. Die-cast metal chassis, stirrup steps, and trucks; wire grab irons; and positionable, sprung doors. Ready-to-run. Atlas O

Assorted freight cars. On2-1/2. Bricktown Brewery billboard refrigerator car ($38) and Associated tank car ($28). Injection-molded plastic models with body-mounted magnetic knuckle couplers and metal wheelsets. Ready-to-run. Bachmann Trains

Large scale details and accessories
Allis-Chalmers HD41 bulldozer with blade and ripper. 1:25 proportion die-cast metal model with positionable doors, detailed cab interior, etched-metal grills and vents, and opening battery box lids with battery detail. $189.95. First Gear, Inc.

S scale details and accessories
Mack Granite tractor with Talbert tri-axle lowboy trailer. City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation. Die-cast metal with rubber tires, simulated wood deck planks on trailer, and detailed cab interior on tractor. $47.95. First Gear

48-foot smooth-side intermodal containers. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Conrail; and American President Lines. Three numbers per scheme. $24.95. S Scale America

Z scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division GP9. New York, New Haven & Hartford (as delivered scheme). $175.95. Ready-to-run. Micro-Trains Line Co.

Z scale freight cars
Assorted freight cars. Trailer Train 60-foot bulkhead flatcar with resin lumber load and Illinois Central Gulf 40-foot PS-1 boxcar. Flatcar features die-cast metal body; detailed bulkhead ends, deck, and underframe; separately applied brake wheel; and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. Boxcar has positionable doors and Magne-Matic knuckle couplers. Price to be announced. Ready-to-run. Micro-Trains Line Co.

Z scale structures
Assorted structures. Loading ramp ($11.95), livestock pen ($11.95), and tool shed ($13.95). Laser-cut wood kits. Micro-Trains Line Co.

Multiple-scale passenger trains
General Motors AeroTrain. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; General Motors demonstrator; New York Central; Pennsylvania RR; Rock Island; Union Pacific; and painted silver but undecorated. Five-pole skew-wound motor; detailed, illuminated interior; and operating headlights and taillights. Dual-mode sound decoder available separately. HO and N scales. Four-unit train (locomotive, two coaches, and observation car) $429.98. Three-car coach set $219.98. Con-Cor International

Union Pacific M-10000. Preproduction sample shown. Printed-circuit board with eight-pin plug for Digital Command Control decoder; detailed, illuminated interior; operating headlights and taillights. Three-unit train $429.98. Add-on cars Overland Trail and Oregon Trail also available, $129.98 to $139.98. Sound decoder with speaker available separately, price to be announced. HO and N scales. Con-Cor International

Multiple-scale structures
Saba Supply Co. Laser-cut wood walls, factory-assembled shake roof, plastic chimney and clutter pile, and decals. HO scale $140, N $99, and O $240. Model Tech Studios

Multiple-scale details and accessories
Modern concrete segmental bridge. Gray injection-molded plastic. For single-track lines. Complete bridge (HO $22.95, N $17.95), additional segments (HO $16.95, N $12.95). Winter 2007. BLMA Models

Medium cut stone and random stone walls. Cast-resin wall sections. Four heights per four-pack. For HO and larger scales. $8.99. Chooch Enterprises

Single-track truss bridge. Factory-assembled brass bridge with walkways on both sides. Compatible with double-stack intermodal cars. Measures 150 scale feet. Available in black and silver. HO scale $325, N $225. Early 2008. BLMA Models

Trackside equipment shed. Factory-assembled and painted injection-molded plastic structure. HO scale $9.45, N $8.45. BLMA Models

Steam-era work trucks. Factory-assembled plastic bodies with white-metal detail castings and decals. Variety of truck styles available (coal and dairy trucks shown). HO scale $19.99, N $12.99, and O $41.95. Model Tech Studios

Electronics/controls
Modern block signals. HO scale. Factory-assembled with operating signal heads. Multiple styles available. Based on common prototypes. Additional information to be released. Mid-2008. BLMA Models

Cool White light-emitting diodes. With 1.8mm bulbs. Includes resistors and connector wires. Six to nineteen volts DC or AC with rectifier for use with AC, DC, or Digital Command Control. Five-pack $22. Evan Designs

Prodigy Wireless Computer Interface. Microsoft Windows-based programming. Allows trains and accessories to be operated from a computer using receiver and transmitter. Receiver, transmitter, and CD-ROM with software $269.98, for Prodigy Wireless (transmitter and software) $179.98. Model Rectifier Corp.

Scenery
Granite rock outcroppings. 15″ x 20″ ($50) and 6″ x 10″ ($15). Factory-painted and weathered rubber rocks. Can be cut with scissors and attached to scene with hot glue or latex adhesives. New York residents add 8.25 percent sales tax. Cripplebush Valley Models

Parts
Replacement gears. For Life-Like Proto 1000 Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC). Replaces original compound and idler gears to increase speed from 45 scale mph to 72 scale mph. Requires minor modification to truck gearbox. $24.95. NorthWest Short Line

Manufacturer’s featured in the Trainfest 2007 show report
Athearn Trains, 1550 Glenn Curtiss St., Carson, CA 90746; www.athearn.com

Atlas O, 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; www.atlaso.com

Bachmann Trains, 1600 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; www.bachmantrains.com

BLMA Models, 16623 Pear Blossom Ct., Whittier, CA 90603; www.blmamodels.com

Bowser, P.O. Box 322, Montoursville, PA 17754; www.bowser-trains.com

B.T.S., P.O. Box 856, Elkins, WV 26241; www.btsrr.com

Chooch Enterprises, P.O. Box 1200, Maple Valley, WA 98038; www.choochenterprises.com

Con-Cor International, 8101 E. Research Ct., Tucson, AZ 85710; www.all-railroads.com

Cripplebush Valley Models, 264 Saddlemire Hill Rd., Sloansville, NY 12160; www.cripplebush.net

DeLuxe Innovations, 9 Whippany Rd., Unit 10, Whippany, NJ 07981; www.deluxeinnovations.com

Evan Designs, P.O. Box 2044, Broomfield, CO 80038; www.modeltrainsoftware.com

First Gear, Inc., P.O. Box 52, Peosta, IA 52068; www.firstgearonline.com

Fox Valley Models, P.O. Box 1970, Des Plaines, IL 60017; www.foxvalleymodels.com

GC Laser, P.O. Box 621, Genoa City, WI 53128; www.gclaser.com

InterMountain Railway Co., P.O. Box 839, Longmont, CO 80502; www.intermountain-railway.com

Kadee Quality Products Co., 673 Ave. C, White City, OR 97503; www.kadee.com

Kato USA, Inc., 100 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173; www.katousa.com

Many New Products, 537 Hallmark Dr., Newport News, VA 23606; www.mnpinc.com

Micro-Trains Line Co., P.O. Box 1200, Talent, OR 97540; www.micro-trains.com

Model Rectifier Corp., 80 Newfield Ave., Edison, NJ 08837; www.modelrectifier.com

Model Tech Studios, P.O. Box 1497, N. Hampton, NH 03862; www.modeltechstudios.com

NorthWest Short Line, P.O. Box 423, Seattle, WA 98111; www.nwsl.com

Overland Models, 311 S. Walnut St., Muncie, IN 47305; www.overlandmodels.com

Precision Craft Models, 4 Signal Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174; www.precisioncraftmodels.com

Rapido Trains, 140 Applewood Crescent, Unit A, Concord, ON, Canada L4K 4E2; www.rapidotrains.com

S Scale America, 1468 Lee St., Des Plaines, IL 60018; www.desplaineshobbies.com

Sylvan Scale Models, 32229 Sylvan Rd., Rural Route no. 2, Parkhill, ON, Canada N0M 2K0; www.isp.on.ca/sylvan

Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 25005, Asheville, NC 28813; www.tangentscalemodels.com

Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., P.O. Box 3039, Milwaukee, WI 53201; www.walthers.com