2-6-2 Prairie steam locomotive. New paint schemes: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Boston & Maine. New road number: Pennsylvania RR. Model features operating headlight and smoke unit. $159. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, www.bachmantrains.com
Assorted freight cars. Chicago & North Western United States Railroad Administration two-bay hoppers (single car, $17.98; three-pack, $52.98). Conrail Pullman-Standard 4,750-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper (gray, $20.98). Central of Georgia 36-foot double-sheathed boxcar with metal ends and fish-belly underframe, $18.98. Erie 36-foot Fowler boxcar, $18.98. Texas & Pacific 40-foot stockcar, $18.98. Union Pacific 40-foot steel boxcars (single door, double door, and Pullman-Standard PS-1. Single car, $19.98; three-pack, $58.98). Injection-molded plastic kits with steel weight, plastic wheelsets, and Accumate couplers. Accurail, 630-365-1173, www.accurail.com
FMC 4,700-cubic-foot-capacity three-bay covered hopper. BNSF Ry. (oxide red with post-2005 herald [with “Scale Monitor Car” lettering in two road numbers, without in three numbers]), Burlington Northern (reporting marks only in two numbers, with road name but no herald in one number), Chicago & North Western (faded yellow), Denver & Rio Grande Western (orange), and Interstate Commodities Inc. (gray with reporting marks only). Three numbers per scheme unless noted. See-through etched-metal running boards and crossover platforms, two outlet gate variations, and 100-ton trucks with 36” machined metal wheels. $37.98. June 2020. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
Acela Express. Includes two locomotives (one powered, one non-powered), first-class passenger car, one business class passenger car, Café Acela car, 45” x 81” oval of nickel silver E-Z Track, and power pack. Powered locomotive has Digital Command Control and features selector switch for rail or pantograph power; die-cast metal gear towers and chassis; working directional headlights, ditch lights, and markers; and operating doors. Passenger cars have tilting chassis for traveling around curves at high speeds, flush windows, lighted interiors, blackened RP-25 contour wheels, and photo-etched brass inserts on air ducts. $579. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, www.bachmanntrains.com
Galvanized steel grain bin. 18 scale foot diameter, seven rings tall. Kit features roof ladder and hatch, lid, and side door. $24. Grain Belt Models line. Iowa Scaled Engineering, 719-351-8615, www.iascaled.com
40-foot smooth-side intermodal container. Atlantic Coast Line, Dart, Japan Line, Sealand, Seatrain, Showa, and Y.S. Line. One three-pack per scheme. Injection-molded plastic model. $32.98. June 2020. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, www.athearn.com
Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (Heritage III scheme with isolated cab and nose headlight). Three road numbers. Five-pole motor with dual brass flywheels, directional headlights, illuminated ditch lights, and Kato knuckle couplers. Direct-current model, $135; with factory-installed TCS K1D4-NC Digital Command Control (DCC) motor decoder, $205; and with ESU DCC sound decoder (special order only), $325. December 2019. Kato USA Inc., 847-781-9574, www.katousa.com
Amtrak Superliner II transition sleeper. Phase 4b paint scheme. One new road number (different number shown). Detailed interiors (can be illuminated with optional light-emitting-diode lighting kit), tinted window glazing, and modeler-installed trip pins. $35. Kato USA Inc., 847-781-9574, www.katousa.com
Sal Manila Egg Wholesaler. Based on structure from George Sellios’ HO scale Franklin & South Manchester layout. Laser-cut wood kit with detail castings, Insta-Fence, cast-resin coal bin, and set of Woodland Scenics figures. Finished diorama measures 5-1/2” x 5-1/2”. Available direct from manufacturer. $79.95 plus shipping. Bar Mills Scale Model Works, 207-929-3400, www.barmillsmodels.com
The House in Gaston. 1:43.5 proportion. Laser-cut cardboard kit with detailed windows, partitions, floors, and interior stairs. Measures 9.1” x 8.7” x 8.5” (including chimneys). $401.82 (price may vary based on exchange rate) Minifer, www.minifer.fr/en
Electro-Motive Division E8 diesel locomotive. New paint scheme: Missouri Pacific (The Eagle). Four road numbers. Prototype-specific details, can motor with dual flywheels, and extra front truck with coupler. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, www.americanzline.com
1937 Association of American Railroads 40-foot boxcar. New paint scheme: New York, New Haven & Hartford. Seven road numbers (single car, two-pack, and four-pack). Murphy raised-panel roof, prototype-specific doors, metal wheels, AutoLatch couplers, and 4-5 Dreadnaught ends. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, www.americanzline.com
Lightweight passenger cars. Missouri Pacific (The Eagle): 6-section, 6-roomette, 4-double-bedroom sleeper (With Pullman in letterboard: Colorado River and Gunnison River). Dome car (With The Eagle in letterboard: no. 893. With The Eagle in letterboard and Texas & Pacific sublettering: no. 200). Baggage (With Missouri Pacific Lines in letterboard and “United States Mail Storage” lettering: no. 700). Coach (with The Eagle in letterboard). Observation car (with Missouri Pacific Lines in letterboard: no. 750). United States Mail Railway Post Office (With The Eagle in letterboard and “United States Mail Railway Post Office” and “Railway Express Agency” lettering: no. 811. With The Eagle in letterboard, “United States Mail Railway Post Office” and “Railway Express Agency” lettering, and International-Great Northern sublettering: no. 813). Etched-metal stirrup steps, flush window glazing, AutoLatch couplers, and add-on details. Dome cars include interior details. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, www.americanzline.com
The BLI locos look and probably run nicely, but I have a bias against manufacturers using proprietary decoders, which can be hard to program and often lack up-to-date features. For me, the Paragon leans toward gimmicks rather than state-of-the-art control, sound and braking capabilities. Too bad, since I really admire the Pennsy T1.