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 15, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division F-series locomotives. Bessemer & Lake Erie (orange and black, two F7As and one F7A-B set); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (passenger warbonnet, single F3A, F3B, and F3A-B set); Erie Lackawanna (maroon and gray, single F7A and F7B and two F7A-B sets); Missouri Pacific/Texas & Pacific (Jenks Blue, two F7As and two F7A-B sets); Norfolk & Western (blue, gray, and black F7A, black F7A-B set, and blue F7A-B set); and Western Maryland (red, white, and black scheme, two F3As and one F7A-B set). Prototype-specific details, light-emitting-diode lighting, and McHenry scale couplers. Single units: direct current with 21-pin NEM connector, $229.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $319.99. Two-unit sets: direct current with 21-pin NEM connector, $439.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $619.99. April 2022. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
United States Army Transportation Corps 65-ton Whitcomb diesel locomotive. Pre-production sample shown. Additional features to be announced. Non-sound version, $249.99; with PIKO 4.1 SmartDecoder and sound, $362.99. July 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
HO scale freight cars
40-foot offset-side ballast hopper. Burlington Northern (Oxide Red), Alaska RR (brown), Southern Ry. (black), Union Pacific (brown with “Serves all the West” slogan), and Wisconsin Central (black). One single car and two four-packs per scheme; also available painted black and Oxide Red with data only (four-packs only). Removable load; separate, factory-applied wire grab irons and brake wheel; and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $44.99; four-pack, $169.99. April 2022. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Pacific Car & Foundry 50-foot smooth-side boxcar with 14-foot plug door. Golden West Service (blue with GVSR reporting marks), Southern Pacific (“Hydra-Cushion” lettering, two road numbers), St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt, “Hydra-Cushion” lettering), and Union Pacific (Southern Pacific marks) Primed for Grime: Southern Pacific and Golden West Service (two numbers each with SP and SSW marks). Four numbers per scheme unless noted. Separate, factory-applied door-closure rods, side ladders, metal grab irons, and etched-metal crossover platforms; detailed full cushion underframe; and 70-ton trucks with rotating bearing caps. Primed for Grime cars have faded base colors to duplicate look of “in service” equipment. $49.99 (Primed for Grime, $54.99). April 2022. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
70-ton 12-panel three-bay hopper. Canadian National (brown with “wet noodle” herald), Chesapeake & Ohio (black with “C&O for Progress” herald), Conrail (Freight Car Red with “can opener” herald), CSX (black with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks), Denver & Rio Grande Western (black with “Flying Grande” lettering), Erie Lackawanna (black and yellow with diamond herald), Louisville & Nashville (1970s repaint), Norfolk Southern (pre-1982 company, gray), Penn Central (black), Pennsylvania RR (class H39 with arched ends in one road number, Bethlehem built class H39, and railroad-built class H39A with Crown trucks), and Southern Ry. (freight car red with billboard lettering). Three numbers per scheme unless noted. Injection-molded plastic with metal wheels. $29.95. January 2022. Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 800-327-5126, bowser-trains.com
70-ton 13-panel three-bay hopper. Penn Central (class H37B, three road numbers) and Pennsylvania RR (class H37B with Crown trucks and H37B in simplified scheme). Six numbers per scheme unless noted. Injection-molded plastic with metal wheels. $29.95. January 2022. Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 800-327-5126, bowser-trains.com
60-foot high-cube boxcar. TTX (yellow and black with Forward Thinking and Railbox heralds and Oxide Red with TOBX reporting marks), BNSF Ry. (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald), Canadian National (Oxide Red with “wet noodle” herald, website, and DWC marks), Canadian Pacific (red with “Canadian Pacific Railway” lettering and beaver herald), and Norfolk Southern (Mineral Red). Four road numbers per scheme. Separate, factory-applied latch bars; 100-ton roller-bearing trucks with 36” turned-metal wheelsets; and Proto-Max metal couplers. $31.98. May 2021. WalthersMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
2,980-cubic-foot-capacity two-bay covered hopper. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Mineral Brown with billboard lettering); Chicago & North Western (yellow); CSX (tan); General American Marks Co. (gray); Union Pacific (gray with “Building America” slogan); and Wisconsin Central (gray). Four road numbers per scheme. Separate, factory-applied hopper gates; 36” turned-metal wheelsets; and Proto-Max metal couplers. $31.98. May 2021. WalthersMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale train sets
Flyer Express Fast-Freight. Canadian Pacific, BNSF Ry., and CSX. Set includes Electro-Motive Division GP15-1 diesel locomotive with working headlight; Norfolk Southern 53-foot smooth-side gondola; Conrail 50-foot insulated boxcar; matching wide-cupola caboose (all freight cars have metal wheels and Proto-Max metal couplers); 36” x 45” oval of Power-Loc track with nickel silver rail, brown ties, and gray roadbed; power pack and speed/direction controller; Walthers Getting Started Guide for new modelers; and set-up and operating instructions. $199.98. August 2021. WalthersTrainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale details and accessories
Triple Crown Wabash National 53-foot RoadRailer. Dura Plate: ex-Swift, ex-Canadian National, and medium logo versions. Platewall: Large and medium logo (both with Conrail and Norfolk Southern heralds) and medium logo with NS herald. Riveted side: Large logo with Norfolk Southern herald. Six trailer numbers per scheme. Injection-molded plastic. $29.95 each. CouplerMate with deck details and steps installed, $17.95. January 2022. Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 800-327-5126, bowser-trains.com
Diesel locomotive cab details. Positive Train Control (PTC) track-type antenna four-pack, $11.99. BNSF Ry. PTC number board two-pack, $8.25. BNSF Ry. PTC stand and antenna array four-pack (two of each item), $10. Large GPS dome two-pack, $6.49. PTC stand four-pack, $8. Rooftop air conditioner protection rack two-pack, $8.50. Round GPS dome four-pack, $6.49. Short track-type PTC antenna four-pack, $8.99. Sleek RV-style air conditioner four-pack, $8. Square RV-style air conditioner four-pack, $8. Track-type PTC stand four-pack, $8. Fully painted or primed 3-D printed parts. MAC Rail LLC, macrailproducts.com
40-foot hi-cube intermodal containers. Smooth-side container with refrigeration unit: Ocean Network Express (white and magenta) and Mitsui Overseas Lines/Seaco (white). Corrugated-side container: Ocean Network Express (white and magenta). Injection-molded plastic with improved door latch details. $11.98 each. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
N scale details and accessories
Assorted intermodal containers. 53-foot high cube with 8-55-8 corrugated sides (two-pack, $33.95): Hub Group (green), Milestone (gray), and Universal (red). 20-foot standard height (two-pack, $29.65): United States Marines (tan) and Siemens Wind Power (NYK Logistics & Megacarrier patchout). 40-foot high cube (two-pack, $29.95): CMA CGM (blue with “Eco container bamboo flooring” lettering), Cosco Shipping (blue), Florens (faded dark blue Hanjin patchout), MOL (brown), and Ocean Network Express (Cherry Blossom Magneta). Visionary Series 53-foot high cube with 6-42-6 corrugation pattern (two-pack, $33.95): Brooks Transportation. Injection-molded plastic with prototype-specific doors and fronts, inter-box connecting pins, and JTC magnetic connecting system (magnets on bottom and metal plates on top). Jacksonville Terminal Co., jtcmodeltrains.com
Large scale locomotives
Pennsylvania RR 2-6-0 steam locomotive. Five-pole precision can-type ball-bearing motor; SoundTraxx sound decoder; 5 volt smoke unit; factory-applied piping, handrails, ladders, and cow catcher; engineer figure; and hook-and-loop couplers. $689.99. May 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Large scale rolling stock
Union Pacific drovers caboose. Positionable side baggage doors; light-emitting-diode marker lamps; factory-applied ladders, running boards with metal railings, brake wheels, and roof smokejack; and hook-and-loop couplers. Can be upgraded with interior lighting using PIKO kit no. 36136, sold separately. $209.99. May 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Z scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division E7A diesel locomotive. Baltimore & Ohio. Two road numbers. Direct-current model with 7mm motor, dual flywheels, metal steps, directional light-emitting-diode lighting, optional front truck with mounted coupler, blackened metal wheels, and AutoLatch couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Z scale freight cars
General American Tank Car Co. 1917 8,000-gallon non-insulated tank car. Virginian Gasoline & Oil Co. Seven road numbers (single car, two-pack, and four-pack). Blackened metal wheels, add-on parts, solid-bearing trucks, and AutoLatch couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Pacific Fruit Express class R-70-20 mechanical refrigerator car. Burlington Northern (Western Fruit Express). Seven road numbers (single car, two-pack, and four-pack). Metal wheels and AutoLatch couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
I was pleasantly surprised to see. Z scale locomotive as the lead in link to this story. Since Z is always at the end of The announcements otherwise, perhaps you could do it a little more often.
Mark