Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Canadian National (North America scheme with Grand Trunk Western reporting marks), Illinois Central (black), Milwaukee Road (Hiawatha scheme), Missouri Pacific (Jenks Blue with screaming eagle), Soo Line (red and white), and Union Pacific (modern scheme). Four road numbers per scheme. Road-number-specific details, wire grab irons, and see-through dynamic brake and radiator fans. Direct-current model with 8- and 9-pin socket for Digital Command Control decoder, $134.98; with RTR Sound by SoundTraxx, $184.98. December 2016. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
40-foot pickle car. Bloch & Guggenheimer Food Inc., Budlong Pickle Co., Green Bay Food Co., National Fruit Product Co., Richter Vinegar Corp., Squire Dingee Co., Soo Line, and Western Food Products. Three road numbers per scheme. Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers, RP-25 contour metal wheelsets, and turnbuckles. $27.98. December 2016. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
Single-sheathed boxcar. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Canadian Pacific; Great Northern; Rock Island; Soo Line; and Southern Pacific. Three road numbers per scheme. Injection-molded plastic body with separately applied brake wheel, metal wheelsets, and McHenry scale couplers. $23.98. December 2016. Roundhouse line. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
40-foot Fruehauf Z-Van trailer. Boston & Maine, Burlington Northern, Kansas City Southern, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Vermont Ry. Three trailer numbers per scheme. Printed mud flaps and rolling vinyl tires. $24.98. December 2016. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
Freightliner tractors. Owner/operator: Black and purple; blue and purple; silver and green; white and orange; white and purple; and white, orange, and brown. Detailed cab interior with separately applied steering wheel, vinyl tires, and clear window glazing. Two- and three-axle versions. $19.98 each. December 2016. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
Assorted detail parts. Air dryer filter (6” and 8” diameter, $3.95 each), Alco brake chain guide ($6.50), Alco angle- and horizontal-mount coolers, cab lights (hollow), dual fuel filter ($5), emergency fuel cutoff, Leslie RS5R24 air horn, Nathan air horns (K3LAR2, K3LAR2 with raised base, K5LR23, K5LR2, K5LR3, K5HR2), oil filter (6”), and single fuel filter. Lost wax brass castings. $4.50 each unless noted. Cal Scale line. Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 570-368-2379, www.bowser-trains.com
Pullman-Standard 60-foot auto parts boxcar. Burlington Northern; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (pre-merger green); Louisville & Nashville; Norfolk & Western; Southern Ry.; Union Pacific; and Western Pacific. Three road numbers per scheme. Photo-etched stirrup steps, 100-ton roller-bearing trucks with extended drawbar, and metal wheelsets. $25.98. December 2016. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
Pullman-Standard PS-2 2,600-cubic-foot-capacity covered hoppers. Burlington Northern (gray with reporting marks only), Chicago & North Western (gray), CSX (Chesapeake & Ohio and Chessie System patchouts), GLNX Corp., Seaboard System (Monon patchout), and Wheeling & Lake Erie (Erie Lackawanna patchout). Three road numbers per scheme. Etched-metal running boards, wire running board grab irons, and McHenry couplers. $24.98. December 2016. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
Code 55 curveable tie sections. Molded in dark brown high-impact styrene. Self-gauging. Rail not included. Six 12” sections, $9.85; 50 12” sections, $46.18. Central Valley Model Works, 805-489-8586, www.cvmw.com
Retro-fit sound kit. For Bowser HO scale General Motors Diesel Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Includes ESU LokSound Select decoder, speaker, speaker housing, and plug. $110. Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 570-368-2379, www.bowser-trains.com
Plastic utility box. 7/8” x 1-5/8” x 6”. Snap lid. Six pack, $6.95. Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 570-368-2379, www.bowser-trains.com
and there is no mention of the N gage ties thereon!
For anyone looking at the N-Scale details and accessories section, the web link for Central Valley Model Works is be http://www.cvmw.com not http://www.c__mv__w.com.
Most of the paint schemes Athearn's new run of pickle cars have been done before, but the new cars will have new numbers. I'm pretty sure that Athearn hasn't previously done the Soo Line cars (with yellow tanks and roof) . The models are based on the "open" side version of an old Athearn blue box kit. The most recent run was sold as "Roundhouse" when Athearn used that name to designate steam era cars, not ones with the lowest level of detail and prices as in the past few years. The one improvement noted in the firm's announcement of the new run is detailed turnbuckles on the cross bracing.
Athearn's new run of single-sheathed ("outside braced") boxcars is based on old MDC Roundhouse tooling, with improved lettering, knuckle couplers and metal wheelsets.