Product news
Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, structures, electronics, train sets, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 21, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division FP45 diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (“Kodachrome” and warbonnet schemes, three numbers each) and Milwaukee Road (yellow and gray). Legendary Liveries fictional schemes: Southern Pacific Santa Fe (“Kodachrome,” one number), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (Heritage II scheme), and Western Pacific (orange and gray). Two numbers per scheme unless noted. Detailed cab interior, wire grab irons, light-emitting-diode headlights, and McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $219.98; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $309.98. December 2021. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division GP40-2 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes: Norfolk Southern (Operation Lifesaver, two road numbers), Canadian Pacific (red and white, two numbers), Burlington Northern (nose stripes and American flag), Conrail (“Quality” scheme [small lettering in two road numbers, large lettering in one number]), CSX (gray and blue, with and without Operation Red Block slogan in two numbers each), Florida East Coast (blue and white), and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray). New road numbers: Boston & Maine (blue and white). Three numbers per scheme unless noted; also available undecorated with curved or straight anticlimber. Golden-white light-emitting-diode headlights, die-cast metal underframe, and Accumate couplers. Direct-current model with factory-installed speaker, $189.95; with dual-mode ESU LokSound sound decoder, $299.95. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
Amtrak Electro-Motive Division E8A no. 4316. Features Farr side grills; rebuilt sides without portholes; Pennsylvania RR-style nose lift lugs; plastic and etched-metal detail parts; and lighting effects, including headlights, class lights, backup lights, ground lights, cab lights, and more. Includes engraved wood presentation box, enamel pin, and numbered certificate of authenticity signed by Rapido president Jason Shron and Amtrak’s Matt Donnelly. Limited run of 500 units. With dual-mode ESU LokSound decoder, $399.95. Delivery in 2021. Rapido Trains, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
HO scale freight cars
50-foot boxcar with Superior plug doors. Canadian National (Mineral Red), Clinchfield (yellow with Fruit Growers Express [FGE] lettering), Conrail (yellow), Norfolk & Western (blue with FGE lettering), Penn Central (yellow with black stripes and FGE lettering), and Southern Pacific (brown with “Car-Pac Loader,” “Fixed side filler,” and “Insulated” stencils). Three road numbers per scheme. Separate, factory-applied brake wheel and ladders; 70-ton roller-bearing trucks with 33” machined metal wheels; and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. $34.98. December 2021. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Trinity 5,660-cubic-foot-capacity four-bay covered hopper. New paint schemes: General American, Bombardier Capital Rail Inc. (NBIX reporting marks), CIT Group (CEFX marks), First Union Rail, Norfolk Southern, and Transportation Co. of America (TCMX marks). Six road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. Separately applied wire grab irons and uncoupling levers, etched-metal brake wheel platform, and body-mounted couplers. $57.95 (undecorated, $52.95). Master Plus line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
42-foot coil steel car. New paint schemes: GE Railcar (DLRX reporting marks and patchout NS Protect III hood), Indiana Harbor Belt (Norfolk Southern patchout), Inland Steel (open coil car), and Norfolk Southern (open coil car). New road numbers: CSX (dark blue and yellow) and Norfolk Southern (Protect III scheme). Four numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. See-through walkways, removable hood, and uncoupling levers. $41.95 (undecorated, $32.95). Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
Pullman-Standard/Trinity “Backpacker” five-unit articulated well car. Trailer Train (six road numbers) and “K” Line/Trailer Train (two numbers). Die-cast metal body, photo-etched stainless steel see-through walkways, wire grab irons on side and end sills, Celcon corner uprights and vertical grab irons, multi-piece brake plumbing and rigging detail, and rotating bearing caps. Wells can carry one 40-foot or two 20-foot intermodal containers; up to 48-foot container in top position (53-foot containers possible in top position if staggered every other well). $139.99. Rivet Counter line. ScaleTrains.com, 423-299-3689, scaletrains.com
34-foot 100-ton two-bay hopper. Golden West Service (blue), Norfolk Southern (Oxide Red), Southern Pacific (brown), Southern Ry. (brown and black schemes), Union Pacific (black with Western Pacific reporting marks), and Wisconsin Central (gray). Three road numbers per scheme. Die-cast metal underframe; separate, factory-applied door and brake details; 36” turned-metal wheelsets; and Proto-Max metal couplers. $27.98. WalthersMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale details and accessories
40-foot standard-height intermodal container with square corrugations. CLOU Container Leasing GmbH (light green), Hanjin (blue), ITEL (orange), Kein Hung (blue, white, and red), NYK Line (orange), ScaleTrains.com (single container only), and TransAmerica Leasing (red). Ten container numbers per scheme (single and three three-packs) unless noted; also available undecorated. Weld bead and stacking point details; cored-through inter-box connector corner castings; smooth doors; and four separate, factory-applied door locking rods. Stackable with most other brands of 40-foot containers and chassis. Single container, $9.99; three-pack, $27.99. Operator line. ScaleTrains.com, 423-299-3689, scaletrains.com
Dry hydrants/standpipes. Kit includes parts for eight complete standpipes with bases, bollards, and hose connections. $9.98. April 2021. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Modern single-post billboard. Newly tooled kit features walkways, nonworking lights, framing, and colorful signs. Can be built as single or front and rear billboards. Molded in gray ABS plastic reinforced with glass fiber to resist bending. Measures 3-3/8” x 4-3/8” x 2-1/16”. February 2021. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
N scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division GP40 diesel locomotive. CP Rail System (dual-flag scheme), BNSF Ry. (Heritage III), CSX (dark blue and yellow with “boxcar” herald), Norfolk Southern (thoroughbred scheme), and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray). One number per scheme. Dual-mode Econami sound decoder, die-cast metal frame, motor with flywheel, and E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. $279. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, bachmanntrains.com
Electro-Motive Division FP45 diesel locomotive. Milwaukee Road (yellow and gray) and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (“Kodachrome” and warbonnet schemes, three road numbers each). Legendary Liveries fictional schemes: Southern Pacific Santa Fe (“Kodachrome,” one number), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (Heritage II scheme), and Western Pacific (orange and gray). Two numbers per scheme unless noted. All-wheel electrical pickup, light-emitting-diode lighting, and McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current model, $149.98; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $249.98. December 2021. AthearnN. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
N scale freight cars
American Car & Foundry 5,800-cubic-foot-capacity four-bay Center Flow covered hopper. Wells Fargo Rail, America Styrenics, BASF, BP Amoco, Eastman Tennessee, Himont USA, Oxyvinyls, PolyOne, and Shintech. Two road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. Nine full-width body panels with 10 weld seams, etched-metal running boards, 10 20” hatches and pneumatic outlets, 100-ton roller-bearing trucks, and Accumate couplers. $29.95 (undecorated, $22.95). Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
N scale passenger equipment
Pullman-Standard lightweight coach. Northern Pacific (two-tone Loewy Green, single car and three-pack); Spokane, Portland & Seattle (Pullman Green and Dulux Yellow, two single cars), Southern Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray City of San Francisco service, single car and two-pack with UP car); and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray City of San Francisco service, single car and two-pack with SP car). All-new tooling based on Pullman-Standard plan 7510. Painted molded grab irons on sides, electrical pickups on trucks for future lighting options, plastic interior, and truck-mounted couplers. Single car, $46; two-pack, $88; and three-pack, $132. RailSmith Models, lowellsmith.net/railsmith/
N scale details and accessories
Ford C Pumper with canopy cab. Chicago (red and black); Highspire, Pa. (American Revolution Bicentennial); Los Angeles City Fire Department (red); Napa, Calif. (American Revolution Bicentennial); Perryville, Md. (American Revolution Bicentennial); and Washington, D.C. (white and red). Molded cab interior with separate steering wheel, clear window glazing, and vinyl tires. $32.98. December 2021. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Picket fence. Plastic kit includes gates and wall sections. Includes enough to build 31” of fence. $9.98. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Z scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. Union Pacific (four road numbers) and Milwaukee Road (one number). Model features shell from first run of GP38-2s with chassis rebuilt to 2020 standards. Locomotive has 7mm coreless motor with dual flywheels, traction tires, standard printed-circuit board, directional light-emitting-diode headlights, and AutoLatch couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Decals
New York Central Budd Rail Diesel Car [RDC] safety striping. HO scale. Can also be used on Penn Central post-merger New York, New Haven & Hartford Budd RDCs. Completes one model. $9.38. Great Decals, Bill Mosteller, 3306 Parkside Terrace, Fairfax, VA 22031; greatdecals.com
