News & Products for the week of December 16th 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 December 16th 2024.
HO scale locomotives
Rapido Electro-Motive Division GP40 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $239.95; with DCC and sound, $349.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Electro-Motive Division GP40 features:
- Underframe details include traction motor cables, air filters, and separately-applied parts
- Road-specific details include battery box doors and fuel tank sizes
- Separate, factory-installed grab irons and handrails
- Detailed cab interior
Release date: 2025
Road names: Kansas City Southern, and National Railway Equipment.
HO scale freight cars
Athearn Food Machine Corp. 4700 covered hopper
Price: Single car, $44.99; three-pack, $114.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Food Machine Corp. 4700 covered hopper features:
- Separately-applied brake gear including brake wheel, brake wheel housing, chain, brake lever, air reservoir, brake cylinder, and triple valve
- Factory applied roof walk, roof hatch, end details, ladders, and wire grab irons
- Two outlet grate variations
Release date: April 2026
Road names: Burlington Northern, BNSF, Chicago & North Western, First Union Rail, Kyle Railroad, and Wilbur Ellis Company.
WalthersMainline 63-foot pulpwood flatcar
Price: $31.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
63-foot pulpwood flatcar features:
- Detailed bulkheads
- Separately applied brake wheel
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Georgia Pacific, Southern, TXX, UNPX, and Wisconsin Southern.
WalthersMainline 89-foot flatcar with bi-level open auto rack
Price: $44.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
89-foot flatcar with bi-level open auto rack features:
- Die-cast metal underframe
- Retooled underbody details
- Swinging drawbar
- User-installed bridge plates included
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Burlington Northern, Grand Trunk Western, Illinois Central, Louisville & Nashville, and Western Pacific.
WalthersProto 45-foot Difco dump car
Price: $44.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
45-foot Difco dump car features:
- Factory-installed grab irons
- Detailed underbody includes pneumatic cylinders and brake gear
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Alaska RR; BC Rail; BNSF; Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range; Helm Leasing; Norfolk Southern; Southern; and Union Pacific.
HO scale accessories
WalthersScenemaster cobblestone street
Price: $17.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Cobblestone street features:
- Made from natural materials including quartz, sand, and rock flour
Release date: Winter 2025
WalthersScenemaster figures and accessory sets
Price: Price varies per set
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Figures and accessory sets features:
- Available sets include workmen, dairy cattle and seated people
Release date: Winter 2025
N scale freight cars
InterMountain Railway Company Sky Box freight car
Price: $54.95
Manufacturer: InterMountain Railway Company, P.O. Box 839, Longmont, Colorado, 80502, 800-472-2530, intermountain@intermountain-railway.com, intermountain-railway.com
Sky Box freight car features:
- Designed for aerospace loads
- Updated hood with separate grab irons
- Factory installed coupler cut bar and air hose
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Southern Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Great Northern, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Santa Fe, Trailer Train, and Union Pacific.
Z scale locomotives
American Z Line Electro-Motive Division SD40T-2 diesel locomotive
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Electro-Motive Division SD40T-2 features:
- Prototype specific details
- Directionally controlled Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting
- Optional pilots/plows included
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Southern Pacific
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.
