News & Products for the week of February 17th 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 February 17th, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
Rapido Alco FA-1/FB-1 diesel locomotive
Price: Single unit, direct-current model, $229.95; with DCC and sound, $339.95: A-B set, direct-current model, $429.95; with DCC and sound, $649.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Alco FA-1/FB-1 features:
- Etched side and fan screens
- Underbody piping and conduit
- Separate grab irons and handrails
- Road-specific details
- Multi-color interior
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Erie Lackawanna; Lehigh Valley; Long Island RR; Soo Line; Missouri Pacific; New York Central; New York, New Haven & Hartford; Spokane, Seattle & Portland; and Wabash.
HO scale rolling stock
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter Trinity 60-foot 7500 plug door high cube boxcar
Price: $66.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Trinity 60-foot 7500 plug door high cube boxcar features:
- Road-specific details include side posts, doors, underframe variations, and roofs
Release date: August 2025
Road names: Atlantic & Western, BNSF, Canadian National, GATX, Trailer Train, and Union Pacific.
WalthersMainline 40-foot wood reefer with wood ends
Price: $34.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
40-foot wood reefer with wood ends features:
- Wood sides
- Double-sheathed wood ends
- Wood roof with platforms and ice hatches
- Fishbelly underframe
- Vertical handbrake staff
Release date: Summer 2025
Road names: American Refrigerator Transit, Pacific Fruit Express, Packerland Packaging Co., and Soo Line.
WalthersProto Gunderson 50-foot high cube boxcar
Price: $49.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Gunderson 50-foot high cube boxcar features:
- Separate door details, end ladders and brake platforms
- Factory applied wire grab irons
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Spring 2025
Road names: Arkansas-Oklahoma, BNSF, Canadian National, and CSX.
HO scale details
WalthersCornerstone belt type transloader
Price: $21.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Belt type transloader features:
- Includes walkway, positionable wheels and low-profile trough
- Molded in white plastic
Release date: Winter 2025
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
- Two road numbers available
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Lehigh Valley
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.
