News & Products for the week of December 30th 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 30th 2024.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Roundehouse Electro-Motive Division F7A diesel locomotive
Price: $144.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division F7A features:
- Also available in limited-edition Athearn scheme
- Flush-fitting cab, porthole, and rear window glass
- Revised die-cast frame design
- Single or dual headlight per prototype
- DCC-ready with 21-pin plug
Release date: April 2026
Road names: Boston & Maine; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Clinchfield; Conrail; CSX; Metra; Reading & Northern; and Seaboard System.
HO scale rolling stock
Athearn Genesis Pacific Car & Foundry 50-foot Youngstown plug door boxcar
Price: $49.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Pacific Car & Foundry 50-foot Youngstown plug door boxcar features:
- Separate wireform grab irons, etched metal coupler platforms, and etched metal roofwalk
- Detailed underframe includes air brake reservoir, control valve, and brake cylinder with plumbing and brake rod details
Release date: May 2025
Road names: St. Louis Southwestern, Golden West Service, and Southern Pacific .
WalthersMainline 61-foot woodchip gondola
Price: $31.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
61-foot woodchip gondola features:
- Fully assembled
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Burlington Northern, Columbia & Cowlitz Ry., Great Northern, Milwaukee Road, Southern Ry., and Union Pacific.
WalthersMainline AAR 70-ton three-bay open hopper
Price: $34.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
AAR 70-ton three-bay open hopper features:
- Nine body panels with rib detail
- End-slope sheet braces
- Die-cast chassis
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Baltimore & Ohio, Burlington Northern, Chesapeake & Ohio, Minneapolis & St. Louis, Peabody, Penn Central, Reading, and Virginian Ry..
HO scale structures
WalthersCornerstone vintage coal dealer
Price: $64.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Vintage coal dealer features:
- Includes brick office building, concrete coal bunker with between-the-rails unloading grate, two coal conveyors, hopper unloaders, vertical steel fuel tanks with pump house, detailed trestle, and molded approach ramp
- Includes printed interior sign sheet and decals
Release date: Winter 2025
HO scale vehicles
Athearn 28-foot wedge trailer and dolly
Price: $59.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
28-foot wedge trailer and dolly features:
- Factory assembled
Release date: May 2026
Road names: UPS
N scale rolling stock
Rapido Greenbrier 72-foot 7780 reefer
Price: Single car, $49.95; three-pack, $149.85; six-pack, $299.70
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Greenbrier 72-foot 7780 reefer features:
- Separately applied cut levers and end platform
- Etched metal grate on end platforms
- Underbody brake rigging
- Separately applied door latch mechanism
- Also available unlettered
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad, Cryo-Trans, Lineage, Ontario Northland, and Union Pacific.
Z scale locomotives
American Z Line Alco RS3
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Alco RS3 features:
- Phase I body
- ALCO AAR trucks
- Dual bulb headlights
- 800 gallon fuel tank
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Gulf, Mobile & Ohio; and Maine Central
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.
