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 April 8, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
General Electric Evolution Series Tier 4 locomotives. Canadian National (100th anniversary in four road numbers; veterans scheme in two numbers; and heritage units [BC Rail; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Illinois Central; and Wisconsin Central] in one number each) and Kansas City Southern (Southern Belle scheme in eight numbers). Prototype-specific details; rotating bearing caps; and etched-metal grills. With ESU LokPilot 5 decoder (no sound), $219.95; with ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $299.95. Release date to be announced. InterMountain Railway Co., 800-472-2530, intermountain-railway.com
Electro-Motive Division SW7 diesel locomotive. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black and gray); Atlantic Coast Line (purple and silver); Detroit & Toledo Shore Line (black, three road numbers); Illinois Central Gulf (orange and white); New York Central (black); and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray). Four road numbers per scheme (two each in direct current and Digital Command Control) unless noted. Newly tooled model based on Phase II prototype. Prototype-specific headlight, six louvered side doors with letterboard gap, and factory-installed grab irons on hood and cab. Direct-current model, $149.98; with dual-mode ESU Sound and DCC decoder, $199.98. May 2021. WaltherMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale freight cars
American Car & Foundry 2,970-cubic-foot-capacity two-bay Center Flow covered hopper. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (gray with “Burlington” lettering and Burlington Route herald); American Car & Foundry demonstrator (three single cars only), Grand Trunk Western (blue Primed for Grime model with paint patches), Missouri Pacific (gray with Texas & Pacific reporting marks and Missouri Pacific Lines “buzzsaw” herald), Norfolk & Western (gray with NW herald and “Norfolk and Western” lettering), and Winchester & Western (tan with red lettering and herald). Two single cars and one three-pack per scheme unless noted. Wire grab irons, RP-25 contour metal wheels, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. $49.99 (Primed for Grime, $59.99); three-pack, $139.99. April 2022. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
American Car & Foundry 50-foot boxcar with exterior posts. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Railbox patchout); Ashley, Drew & Northern (green); Chicago & North Western (yellow); Pacific RR (dark green); Florida East Coast (red with hurricane herald); and Railbox (early yellow-and-black scheme). Three road numbers per scheme. Separate, factory-applied brake wheel; 33” machined metal wheels; and 70-ton roller-bearing trucks. $34.99. April 2022. Roundhouse line. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
International Car Co. riveted-side caboose. Norfolk & Western (class C-20, dark blue with “hamburger” herald), Pittsburgh & West Virginia (red and black), and Seaboard Air Line (red and black, four road numbers). Three numbers per scheme unless noted. Prototype-specific details, see-through end platforms and steps, light-emitting-diode lighting, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Without sound, $109.99; with SoundTraxx Tsunami SoundCar, $149.99. April 2022. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
American Car & Foundry 40-foot welded-side boxcar with 8-foot door. Chicago & Eastern Illinois (Boxcar Red with billboard lettering), Erie Lackawanna (Boxcar Red with diamond herald), Maine Central (yellow), Pennsylvania RR (Freight Car Color with shadow keystone), Union Pacific (Boxcar Red with “Be Specific – Ship Union Pacific” slogan), Wabash (Boxcar Red with “Serving the Heart of America” slogan), and Western Maryland (Boxcar Red with speed lettering). Three road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. Newly tooled model with 10-panel body, 8-foot Youngstown doors, late Stanray 4/4 improved Dreadnaught ends, Stanray diagonal-panel roof, Apex see-through running boards, 33” turned-metal wheelsets, and Proto-Max couplers. $29.98. WaltherMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale structures
Modern highway overpass kits. Steel and concrete with pipe railings, concrete, and steel with concrete sides. Includes parts to build single- or double-span bridges. Can be combined with other kits (sold separately) for longer spans. Optional round and square support columns in tall and short styles to clear railroad or highway below. Abutments have molded cut lines. $39.98 each. Cornerstone Series. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Municipal water tower. Injection-molded plastic kit with detailed tank and supports, steel guy wires, and decals. Measures 3-5/16” x 3-5/16” x 11-1/8”. $29.98. Cornerstone Series. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale details and accessories
52’-5” gondola lids. Early (ribbed) and late (smooth) versions. 3-D printed lid in white scheme. Includes modeler-installed lid locks and grab irons. Designed to fit Atlas, ExactRail, and Walthers Thrall gondolas and cars from other manufacturers. $20. MAC Rail LLC, macrailproducts.com
N scale freight cars
48-foot Husky-Stack well car. Trailer Train (yellow), BNSF Ry. (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald), Greenbrier Leasing (red), and Northwest Container (red). Four road numbers each (one number includes 48-foot intermodal container). Separate, factory-applied brake rigging and brake wheel; etched-metal walkways; and McHenry couplers. $34.99 ($49.99 with container). April 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
General American Transportation Corp. TankTrain tank cars. 282XX-series (black with small logo) and 486XX-series (black with original logo and black with no logo). Nine intermediate cars and one three-pack (A, B, and intermediate car) per paint scheme. Full underbody plumbing and rigging, screw-mounted 100-ton roller-bearing trucks with 36” machined metal wheels, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Intermediate car, $39.99; three-pack, $109.99. April 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Decals
Carolina & Northwestern locomotives and cabooses. HO scale. Covers Alco RS-2 (nos. 1-4), RS-3 (nos. 5-10), and RS-11 (no. 11) diesel locomotives; wood cabooses (nos. X11-X16); and steel bay-window cabooses (nos. X25-X34). Includes Carolina & Northwestern, Danville & Western, and Blue Ridge road names and heralds and road numbers. Each set completes at least one locomotive and two cabooses. $17.99 postpaid. Virginia residents please add sales tax. PayPal accepted. Bill Mosteller, Great Decals, 3306 Parkside Terrace, Fairfax, VA 22031; greatdecals.com
Books
The Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal History. By David J. Leider. Book traces the history of the railroads that formed the B&OCT from the LaSalle & Chicago RR projected in 1867 to the Chicago & Great Western, which together with the Chicago & Calumet Terminal formed the Chicago Terminal Transfer, which became the B&OCT. The B&O is followed from its entry into Chicago in 1873 to the formation of CSX in 1980. Softcover, 325 pages. More than 280 photos (46 in color), 128 maps, 20 drawings and illustrations, all-time locomotive roster, bibliography, and index. $50 (includes media rate shipping to the continental U.S.; contact for prices outside the U.S.) Check or money order to David Leider, 9070 64th Way N., Pinellas Park, FL 33782-4663; sooauthor@netzero.com
