News & Products for the week of April 22nd 2024
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 22nd 2024.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Electro-Motive Division F-unit series
Price: Direct-current model, $382.60; with DCC and sound, $539.12
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division F-unit series features:
- Wire grab irons
- Separately-applied photo-etched metal and injection molded detail parts
- Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes and retention tanks
- See-through cab windows and full cab interior
- Etched metal fan grilles
Release date: August 2025
Road names: Colorado & Southern, Denver & Rio Grande Western, and Great Northern.
HO scale passenger cars
Rapido Super Continental Line passenger coaches
Price: $119.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Super Continental Line passenger coaches features:
- Track-powered interior lighting
- Lightweight coaches feature Trane air conditioner details
- Redesigned free-rolling trucks
- Detailed underbody
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Amtrak, BC Rail, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Central of New Jersey, Delaware & Hudson, Erie-Lackawanna, Grand Trunk Western, Long Island Railroad, Missouri Pacific, and VIA Rail Canada.
HO scale freight cars
Athearn 50-foot Youngstown plug door boxcar
Price: Single car, $30.42; three-pack, $76.51
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
50-foot Youngstown plug door boxcar features
- Separately applied brake wheel and ladders
- Injection molded body
Release date: August 2025
Road names: Milwaukee Road, Boston & Maine, Burlington Northern, Denver & Rio Grande Western, Fruit Growers Express, and Union Pacific.
Tangent Scale Models General American 6,000 gallon three-compartment tank car
Price: $48.95
Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816; 828-412-3886; tangentscalemodels.com
General American 6,000 gallon three-compartment tank car features:
- Fully riveted body and underframe
- Separately applied tank handrail and tank strap detail
- Wire grab irons and coupler lift bars
- Separate air hoses
Release date: Available now
Road names: Champlin Refining Company, GATX, Hercules Powder Company, John H. Grace & Company, Magnolia Petroleum Company, Mid Continent Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Company, and Standard Tank Car Company.
HO scale structures
VK Modelle Santa Fe Style Gas Station with Garage
Price: $59.99
Manufacturer: VK-Modelle GmbH, Bellscheider Weg 33, D-40883 Ratingen, +49-2102-66921; vk-modelle.de
Santa Fe Style Gas Station with Garage features:
- Structures include laser-cut window frames and doors
Release date: Available now
Z scale passenger cars
American Z Line heavyweight combine coaches
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Heavyweight combine coaches features:
- New tooling
- Available with two- or three-axle trucks
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Southern
Accessories
Walthers Light-Emitting Diode (LED) fascia controller
Price: $11.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) fascia controller features:
- Separate pushbutton & single LED indicator
- “Plug & play” wiring
- Plug compatible with Switch Machine & Stall Motor Controller auxiliary outputs
Release date: Available now
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 email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cgrivno@kalmbach.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bsleppy@kalmbach.com for more information.
