News & Products for the week of April 28th 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 28th, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Electro-Motive Division SD40 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current mode, $194.99; with DCC and sound, $264.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division SD40 features:
- Photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers
- Separately applied wire grab irons and air tanks
- Curved radiator fan grab iron
- See-through cab windows, dynamic brake and radiator fans
Release date: November 2026
Road names: Baltimore & Ohio, Burlington Northern, Conrail, Detroit Edison, Illinois Central, Maine Central, Morrison Knudsen, Southern Ry., Southern Pacific, and Western Maryland.
WalthersMainline Electro-Motive Division SW1 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $189.98; with DCC and sound, $248.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Electro-Motive Division SW1 features:
- Factory installed wire grab irons
- Die-cast metal underframe
- Also available undecorated in molded gray and painted yellow
Release date: Winter 2026
Road names: Amtrak; Boston & Maine; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago & North Western; Milwaukee Road; New York Central; and Southern Ry.
HO scale passenger equipment
Broadway Limited Union Pacific business coach No. 101
Price: $129.99
Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 broadway-limited.com
Pullman-Standard business coach features:
- Prototype commonly seen in Union Pacific excursions
- Available in “Lone Star” and “Lincoln” configurations
- Detailed and decorated interior
- Also available undecorated in primer gray
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Union Pacific
HO scale vehicles
Athearn Ford 850 box van
Price: $39.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Ford 850 box van features:
- Ford licensed model
- Molded cab interior with separately applied steering wheel
- Factory assembled with detail parts applied
- Clear window glazing
- Also available unlettered in black and white
Release date: November 2026
Road names: Bekins, Denver & Rio Grande Western, Great Northern, Katsburge Brothers, Penguin Ginger Ale, Penn Central, Pennsylvania RR, and Union Pacific.
HO scale structures
WalthersCornerstone plastic pellet plant background building
Price: $49.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Plastic pellet plant background building features:
- Four tall storage silos
- Loading rack with piping for two railroad cars
- Overhead walkways
- Molded in six colors
Release date: Spring 2025
HO scale track
WalthersTrack Code 83 No. 5 single crossovers
Price: $63.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Code 83 No. 5 single crossovers features:
- Current jumpers entering and leaving the frogs
- Isolated frogs with built-in jumper
- Insulated tie bar
- Thin profile ties in dark brown with wood grain detail
Release date: Summer 2025
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.
