News & Products for the week of December 2nd 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 2nd 2024.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Genesis Alco 4-8-2 Mt-4 steam locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $509.99; with DCC and sound, $609.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Alco 4-8-2 Mt-4 features:
- Available with or without Skyline casing as applicable
- Cab interior details
- Adjustable cab windows and doors
- Firebox with rivet details
- Fectory applied details include valves, steps, air tanks, and brass-painted bell and whistle
Release date: April 2026
Road names: Athearn, and Southern Pacific.
Broadway Limited Imports Union Pacific Big Boy
Price: Direct-current mode, $749.99; with DCC and sound, $849.99
Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 broadway-limited.com
Imports Union Pacific Big Boy features:
- Available configurations include 1941 delivery appearance, 1944 appearance, experimental smoke deflector configuration, “The Big Boy Tour” excursion appearance, and modern day appearance
- Three tender variations
- Die-cast boiler, tender body and chassis
- Also available in 49er, American Freedom Train, Great Northern, and United States Navy fantasy schemes
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Union Pacific
Rapido General Electric 44-tonner diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $199.95; with DCC and sound, $309.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
General Electric 44-tonner features:
- Multiple body phases available
- Die-cast chassis and fuel tank
- Separately applied door latches
- Detailed cab interior
- Photo-etched cab steps
- Also available undecorated, and in industrial red, yellow, and blue paint schemes
Release date: Late 2025
Road names: Burlington Northern; Chicago, Burlington & Northern; Claremont & Concord; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Erie; Great Northern; Greater Winnipeg Water District; Illinois Central; Lehigh Valley; Middletown & New Jersey; New Haven; New York, Ontario & Western; Pacific Electric; Penn Central; Strasburg RR; and Western Maryland.
HO scale freight cars
Athearn Roundhouse 50-foot exterior post high cube plug door boxcar
Price: $29.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
50-foot exterior post high cube plug door boxcar features:
- Fully assembled
- Injection-molded body
Release date: April 2026
Road names: Canadian Pacific, Chicago & North Western, Coe Rail Inc., International Bridge & Terminal, Laurinburg & Southern, and Union Pacific.
InterMountain Railway Co. bi-level autorack
Price: $99.95
Manufacturer: InterMountain Railway Company, P.O. Box 839, Longmont, Colorado, 80502, 800-472-2530, intermountain@intermountain-railway.com, intermountain-railway.com
Bi-level autorack features:
- Etched-metal, see-through side panels
- Multiple road numbers available
Release date: Available now
Road names: Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Conrail, CSX, Ferromex, Southern Pacific, and Trailer Train.
Moloco American Car Foundry 50-foot exterior post waffle boxcar
Price: $66.99
Manufacturer: Moloco Trains, info@molocotrains.com, molocotrains.com
American Car Foundry 50-foot exterior post waffle boxcar features:
- Road number specific handbrakes
- Rubber air hoses and metal corner stirrups
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Available now
Road names: Burlington Northern, Florida East Coast, Missouri Pacific, and St. Louis-San Francisco.
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter Trinity 82-foot mechanical reefer
Price: $73.99; with sound, $104.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Trinity 82-foot mechanical reefer features:
- Carrier HVAC unit
- Cylindrical refrigeration unit fuel tank
- Intricate “A” end refrigeration unit access platform with photo-etched metal platform deck
- Fuel tank end cage with separate plastic frame and wire grabirons
- Factory-applied ladders, metal grab irons, tack boards, coupler cut levers, and trainline hoses with silver gladhands
Release date: July 2025
Road names: BNSF, and Trinity Industries Leasing.
WalthersMainline 50-foot 100-ton four-bay hopper
Price: $34.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
50-foot 100-ton four-bay hopper features:
- Die-cast metal underframe
- Sloped sheet braces and detailed brake gear
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Chicago & North Western, Conrail, Denver & Rio Grande Western, and Illinois Central Gulf.
HO scale structures
WalthersCornerstone coffee shop
Price: $24.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Coffee shop features:
- Molded in three colors
- Measurements: 4-7/16 x 3-9/16 x 2-17/32″
Release date: Winter 2025
Z scale freight cars
American Z Line Trinity 50-foot boxcar
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Trinity 50-foot boxcar features:
- Available as a single car, or in sets of two or four
Release date: To be announced
Road names: TTX
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.
