News & Products for the week of April 14th 2025
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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 14th, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Genesis Electro-Motive Division GP39-2 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $249.99; with DCC and sound, $349.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division GP39-2 features:
- Details include lift rings, walkway tread, trainline and m.u. hoses, windshield wipers, and wire grab irons
- Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, and breather pipes
- See-through cab windows and full cab interior
- Etched metal fan grilles
- Also available in Denver & Rio Grande Western fantasy scheme
Release date: November 2026
Road names: Cleveland Commercial RR., Missouri-Kansas-Texas, and Larry’s Truck & Electric.
HO scale passenger equipment
WalthersProto 85-foot heavyweight 36-seat diner car
Price: $109.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
85-foot heavyweight 36-seat diner car features:
- Based on Pullman prototype
- Detailed interior includes interior light-emitting diode (LED) illumination
- Detailed underbody includes separate brake gear, steam traps, and generator
- Also available unlettered in green
Release date: Fall 2025
Road names: Chesapeake & Ohio, Milwaukee Road, New York Central, and Union Pacific.
HO scale rolling stock
Athearn Genesis International Car Company caboose
Price: $134.99; with sound, $174.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
International Car Company caboose features:
- Interior seating
- See-through end platforms and steps
- Etched metal window screens on door and some side windows
- Available in multiple Baltimore & Ohio schemes, and Athearn USA 250th Anniversary scheme
- Flush window glazing
Release date: November 2026
Road names: Baltimore & Ohio
HO scale structures
Walthers vintage brick warehouse
Price: $59.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Vintage brick warehouse features:
- Tower, main building, warehouse, and loading docks are separate components
- Decals and printed graphics included
- Parts molded in four colors
Release date: Spring 2025
N scale passenger equipment
Rapido Bombardier LRC coach car
Price: $79.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Bombardier LRC coach car features:
- Available in Coach, VIA 1, and Business Class configurations
- Available in various VIA schemes
- Etched-metal stirrups
- Detailed interior
- Tinted windows
Release date: 2026
Road names: VIA Rail Canada.
News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more. Model railroad product news may include HO, N, O, S, and Z scales. Product release dates and prices will vary according to each manufacturer. If you are a manufacturer and have new product releases, please e-mail Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bryson.sleppy@firecrown.com for more information.
