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 14, 2022.
HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division SD40T-2 diesel locomotive. Potash Corp. (gray with orange, two road numbers); Denver & Rio Grande Western (black with orange); Southern Pacific (“Kodachrome” scheme, fictional “Black Widow” scheme in two numbers, and scarlet-and-gray scheme with speed lettering); and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray). Three numbers per scheme unless noted. See-through radiator grills, new rear truck gearbox, light-emitting diode lighting, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $179.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $279.99. May 2023. Athearn series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
General Electric ES44AC diesel locomotive. Norfolk Southern (Southern Ry., Conrail, Pennsylvania RR, and Norfolk Southern heritage schemes in one road number each and Thoroughbred scheme), CSX (Honoring Our Veterans, Honoring Our Law Enforcement, and Honoring Our First Responders, one number each), BNSF Ry. (Heritage III), General Electric demonstrator (blue with “NextFuel” slogan, one number), Kansas City Southern (“Safety Starts Here” scheme, one number), and Union Pacific (“Building America” scheme). Fantasy paint schemes (one number each): Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (zebra stripes), Canadian National (green and gold), Great Northern (Empire Builder scheme), and Union Pacific (two-tone gray with aluminum and yellow lettering). Two numbers per scheme unless noted. ABS body, die-cast metal chassis, and dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder. $374.99. July 2022. Broadway Limited Imports, 386-673-8900, broadway-limited.com
HO scale freight cars
Assorted freight car kits. Norfolk & Western American Car & Foundry two-bay Center Flow covered hopper (gray), $20.98. Chicago & North Western 40-foot single-sheathed boxcar (Boxcar Red), $19.98. Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis 36-foot double-sheathed boxcar (Boxcar Red), $19.98. Southern Pacific 40-foot six-panel single-sheathed boxcar (“Overnight” scheme), single car, $19.98; three-pack, $58.98. Injection-molded plastic kits with plastic wheelsets, plastic trucks, and Accumate couplers. April 2022. Accurail, 630-365-1173, accurail.com
60-foot flatcar. Soo Line (light gray and green with “Custom Equipped for Custom Service” slogan); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (red with “Super Shock Control” lettering); Burlington Northern (Cascade Green); Chicago & Eastern Illinois (Oxide Red); Delaware & Hudson (red); St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco, yellow); Trailer Train (yellow with HTTX reporting marks); and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow). Five road numbers per scheme (two single cars and one three-pack). Injection-molded body; separate, factory-applied brake wheel; and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $39.99; three-pack, $99.99. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Greenville Steel Car Co. 86-foot high-cube quad-door boxcar. Denver & Rio Grande Western (January 1970 delivery scheme, two road numbers); CSX (1991+ repaint, six numbers); Illinois Central (February 1970 delivery scheme, four numbers); Penn Central (February 1970 class X-60-R, eight numbers); and Southern Pacific (class B-70-54 in February 1970 delivery scheme, eight numbers). Undecorated kits (two versions) also available. Body shells with overlapping side panels, 70-ton Barber S-2 “Birdsboro foundry” roller-bearing trucks with rotating bearing caps, and Kadee scale couplers. $56.95. Tangent Scale Models, 828-412-3886, tangentscalemodels.com.
HO scale details and accessories
Kenworth tractor with 45-foot smooth-side trailer. Metallic blue, black, green, metallic purple, red, and white. Tractor features molded cab interior; separate, factory-applied steering wheel; and clear window glazing. Trailer has separate, factory-applied mud flaps, red-and-white conspicuity stripes; and vinyl tires. $64.99. May 2023. Athearn series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com.
N scale structures
Elf service station. Laser-cut cardboard kit with gas pumps, signs, and instructions in PDF format. Measures 3.14” x 1.96” x 1.77″. $29.37. Price may vary based on exchange rate. Minifer, minifer.fr/en
Z scale locomotives
Alco PA-1 and PB-1 diesel locomotives. Southern Pacific (Daylight scheme, two single A units and two A-B sets). Prototype-specific details, directional light-emitting diode headlights, and blackened metal wheels. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7B diesel locomotives. Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray, single F7A and F7A-F7B set). Prototype-specific details, 7mm motor, and optional replacement truck with truck-mounted coupler. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Electro-Motive Division SW1500 diesel locomotive. New paint scheme: Penn Central (black). Two road numbers. Prototype-specific details, traction tires, and AutoLatch couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Books
Building What’s In A Photo. By Model Railroader magazine. Book takes readers from an interesting prototype photo all the way through to a finished project. Includes projects by popular Model Railroader authors Paul J. Dolkos, Bernard Kempinski, contributing editor Lou Sassi, and M.R. Snell, among others. Softcover, 144 pages. $24.99. Kalmbach Hobby Store, kalmbachhobbystore.com
