Product news
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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of July 1, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Union Pacific class FEF-3 4-8-4 steam locomotive. Black and graphite (in-service version in four road numbers; modern excursion version in one number) and two-tone gray (with aluminum and silver stripes, one number each). Also available painted black and graphite but unlettered. Dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder with Rolling Thunder; die-cast metal boiler, tender body, and chassis; and rubber traction tires. $699.99. September 2021. Broadway Limited Imports, 386-673-8900, broadway-limited.com
Reading Co. class T-1 4-8-4 steam locomotive. Chessie System Steam Special (one road number); American Freedom Train (early 1975 and 1976 versions, one number each); Christmas fantasy scheme (one number); Delaware & Hudson (Centennial locomotive, one number); Independence Day scheme (one number); Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern (one number); and Reading Co. (in-service and Iron Horse Rambles excursion schemes, three numbers each). Dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder with Rolling Thunder, plastic boiler and tender body, die-cast metal chassis, and rubber traction tires. $549.99. September 2021. Broadway Limited Imports, 386-673-8900, broadway-limited.com
HO scale freight cars
40-foot three-dome tank car. New road names: Ambrose Wine Co., Quaker State, and Texaco. One road number per scheme. Celcon trucks, blackened-metal RP-25 contour wheels with non-magnetic blackened brass axles with needled-point bearings, and body-mounted E-Z Mate couplers. $35. Silver Series. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, bachmanntrains.com
Old-time tank car. Blue Bell Kerosene, New York Central, Philadelphia & Reading, Union Tank Line, U.S. Military RR, and Wheeling & Lake Erie. One road number per scheme. Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons; Celcon trucks; blackened metal RP-25 contour wheels with non-magnetic blackened brass axles with needle-point bearings; and body-mounted E-Z Mate couplers. $43. Silver Series. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, bachmanntrains.com
Pullman-Standard 2,893-cubic-foot-capacity three-bay covered hopper. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (gray with circle-cross herald in square); Baltimore & Ohio (gray with large “B&O”); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black); Chicago & North Western (yellow); Milwaukee Road (gray with red “The Milwaukee Road” herald); New York Central (gray); Penn Central (gray with “worm” herald); and Southern Railway (gray with billboard lettering). Four road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. Injection-molded plastic with separate, factory-applied hatch covers, running board, and brake wheel; metal wheels; and solid-bearing trucks. $29.98. WalthersMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., walthers.com
HO scale details and accessories
Assorted signal head and signal mast assemblies. Signal head kits (pewter, resin, and in some cases brass parts, without light-emitting diodes): General Railway Signal (GRS) Type G Tri-Light, GRS SA, modern color light with snow hoods, and Union Switch & Signal H2. $5.50 each. Signal ground mast and ladder assemblies (etched-metal parts, brass mast, and pewter base) in four versions. Can be used with various Showcase Miniatures signal head kits. $5.75 each. Showcase Miniatures, 334-750-3276, showcaseminiatures.net
Farm trailers. Hay trailer with load ($19.98) and large farm trailer ($14.98). Injection-molded plastic kits. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., walthers.com
N scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7B diesel locomotive. Kansas City Southern (Freight Belle scheme); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (cat whiskers scheme); Boston & Maine (maroon and imitation gold); Denver & Rio Grande Western (single stripe scheme); Great Northern (Empire Builder); Northern Pacific (pine tree scheme); Reading Co. (black and green, A-B set and single A unit); Southern Pacific (“black widow” scheme); and Western Maryland (“fireball” scheme, A-B set and single A unit). Each road name offered as single powered A and B units and A-B set [powered A unit, unpowered B unit] unless noted. Dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder with Rolling Thunder, plastic body with die-cast metal chassis, and all-wheel electrical pickup. Single A and B units, $249.99 each; A-B sets, $329.99. September 2021. Broadway Limited Imports, 386-673-8900, broadway-limited.com
Large scale freight cars
Animated stockcar. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (horse transport); Chicago & North Western (horse transport); Denver & Rio Grande Western (cattle transport); and North Pole & Southern (reindeer transport). One road number per scheme. Four animated animal heads, blackened metal wheels, and truck-mounted knuckle couplers. Runs on 45mm track. $152. Big Haulers line. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, bachmanntrains.com
Christmas Package Transporter flatcar. Die-cast metal VW Kombi with mini packages; factory-installed brake wheel, wheel chocks, brake cylinder, grab irons, and stirrup steps; removable side boards; plastic wheelsets; and hook-and-loop couplers. $159.99. August 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Electronics/controls
Colbalt iP Digital turnout motor. For Z through large scales. Pre-wired and ready to install. Able to handle wide range of direct current (DC) and Digital Command Control (DCC) power supply voltages (9 to 12VDC regulated power preferred, but any DCC voltage from 7 to 23V is acceptable). Two break-before-make onboard switches that only operate when turnout motor has changed. One switch is linked to the power input wires for direct connection of frog power, logic systems, computers, panel switches, or any accessory that can be allied with drive power. The other is an independent single-pole double-throw changeover switch for secondary frog power, signaling, and interlocking, among other uses. Gold-plated heavy phosphor-bronze changeover contacts can handle up to 5 amps reliably. Low bus loading of less than 5mA in standby. Includes screws and self-adhesive pads. Measures 1.1” wide, 1.6” deep, and 1.7” tall. Single motor, $27.46; six-pack, $152.79; 12-pack, $305.64; and 72-pack, $1,630.27. Prices may vary based on exchange rate. DCC Concepts, +44 (0)1729 821080, dccconcepts.com
Is the Cobalt just a slightly more flexible Tortoise (by Circuitron) clone or does it have some unique features? I can’t tell.