HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes: Amtrak (phase 5 scheme in two road numbers), BNSF Ry. (post-2005 herald in one number or Heritage I), Conrail, and Norfolk Southern (River Street Rambler in one number or horsehead herald). Three numbers each unless noted. Detailed cab interior, separately applied wire grab irons, and McHenry scale couplers. $124.98. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 310-763-7140, www.athearn.com
American Car & Foundry 50’-6” boxcar. New road numbers: Ashley, Drew & Northern and Railbox (two numbers per scheme). New paint schemes: Bath & Hammondsport, BNSF (post-2005 herald), Clarendon & Pittsford, Norfolk Southern (NS late reprint or Southern Ry. reporting marks), Railbox (small logo, new numbers), and U.S. Army. Two car numbers each; also available undecorated. Weighted and detailed underframe, metal wheelsets, and Accumate couplers. $21.95 (undecorated, $15.95). Ready-to-run. Trainman series. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, www.atlasrr.com
Thrall 2,743-cubic-foot-capacity gondola. New paint schemes: Chicago Freight Car, Gondola Connection (St. Marys Ry. West LLC reporting marks), Norfolk Southern (with safety stripes), R.J. Corman, and Wheeling & Lake Erie. Three road numbers per scheme. Metal grab irons and brake rods, etched-metal crossover platforms and end reinforcement plate, and optional coupler pocket for Kadee no. 78 or Accumate scale couplers. $29.95. Ready-to-run. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, www.atlasrr.com
Bethlehem 3,483-cubic-foot-capacity hopper. New paint schemes: CSX (two-panel patchout in four road numbers, three-panel patchout in five numbers, three-panel post-SP repaint in three numbers, and UP shield patchout in one number) and Denver & Rio Grande Western (1972 and 1982 as-delivered schemes in 24 numbers each and Southern Pacific speed lettering or Union Pacific shield, one number each). Kadee no. 158 couplers, 36” metal wheelsets, and choice of heap- or flood-style coal load. $38.95. Ready-to-run. Platinum Series. ExactRail, 801-342-5436, www.exactrail.com
Assorted heavy-duty tie-down chains. With hooks or anchor shackles. Includes extra binders and details to leave on deck. Ten-pack (approximately 26-1/2” of chain). $12.99. Free shipping in United States and Canada. Precision Design Co., 204-324-8711, www.pdc.ca
General Electric U25C diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Conrail; Louisville & Nashville; and Northern Pacific. Two road numbers per scheme. Five-pole can motor with flywheels, die-cast metal chassis, RP-25 contour wheels, and prototype-specific details. Based on Phase IIIb prototype. Direct-current model with 6-pin plug for a Digital Command Control decoder, $159.99. Ready-to-run. Arnold line. Hornby America, 877-358-6405, www.hornbyamerica.com
Pennsylvania RR class GLa hoppers. Berwind, Buffalo Creek & Gauley, Canadian National (black or mineral red), Pennsylvania RR (mineral red with shadow keystone in six road numbers or black with plain keystone), Waddell Coal Co. (four numbers), Western Maryland, and Westmoreland Coal Co. Three road numbers per scheme unless noted. Fox Valley Models metal wheelsets and body-mounted knuckle couplers. $19.95. Summer 2015. Ready-to-run. Executive Line. Bowser Manufacturing, 570-368-2379, www.bowser-trains.com
40-foot stockcar. New paint schemes: Great Northern (Big Sky Blue), Southern Pacific, Texas & Pacific, and Union Pacific (Oregon Short Line reporting marks). Separately applied running boards, ladder, brake wheel, and brake lines; metal couplers; and sprung die-cast-metal trucks. $59.95. Ready-to-run. Trainman line. Atlas O, 908-687-9590, www.atlaso.com
TS2 block signal control circuit. Uses pulsed infrared light to detect trains. Each circuit operates two block signals at a block boundary on a single track, one signal for each direction. Multiple TS2 circuits may be connected in series to operate successive signals. User can select three-aspect, two-block operation or four-aspect, three-block operation for most types of light-emitting diode (LED) signals. Circuit automatically adapts to both common-anode and common-cathode LED designs. Compatible with AC, DC, Digital Command Control, and live steam. $39; three-pack, $99. Azatrax, 303-775-2214, www.azatrax.com
Track
Unitrack N scale double track single crossovers. No. 4 turnout with synthetic resin ties under crossover and concrete ties on remainder of track. Manual switches in molded plastic roadbed; two built-in electrical turnout controllers can be connected to Kato no. 24-840 control switches. Digital Command Control-friendly without modification. Track section measures 9-3/4”. Left- or right-hand versions, $49 each. Kato USA Inc., 847-781-9500, www.katousa.com
EZ Access drill set. Internal cable transmits the torque of a power screwdriver through a stainless steel tube to the chuck holding the drill bit. Includes ¼” hex drive fitting and chuck with 1/32” capacity (drill bit and power screwdriver not included). $34.95. Micro-Mark, 800-225-1066, www.micromark.com
Scratchbuilding supplies
Transparent .010” styrene sheet. New colors. Blue, green, red, and yellow. 6 x 12 sheets. OPS polystyrene for high visual clarity. Two-pack or four-color assortment (includes sheet of .010” black styrene). Prices to be announced. Evergreen Scale Models, 877-376-9099, www.evergreenscalemodels.com
Toledo & Central Ohio RR United States Railroad Administration hopper. Accurail HO scale kit custom decorated for the Central Ohio Model RR Club. Two road numbers. Injection-molded plastic hopper features plastic wheelsets, Accumate couplers, separate brake detail, and coal load. $23 each plus $6 shipping for one or two cars. Ohio residents must add 7.5 percent sales tax. Check or money order to COMRC, c/o Bill Alarie, 632 D’Lyn St., Columbus, OH 43228
The Atlas 50' double door boxcar,Thrall gondola and Trainman series AC&F 50'6" boxcar models listed weren't announced by the firm in the week of January 8. They reached the U.S. market quite a while ago, and Walthers has been sold out of most of them for quite some time. Please try to keep "new announcements" current!
The roadname for the HO hopper offered by the Central Ohio Model Railroad Club is misstated twice: in the text and in the photo caption. It should be Toledo & Ohio Central. Some of us never heard of that line until the Penn Central put TOC reporting marks on some freight cars so old — ex Wellsville Addison & Galeton single-sheathed boxcars, for instance — that someone in authority didn't want the PC's regular reporting marks on them!