News & Products for the week of February 5th 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 February 5th 2024.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $219.99; with DCC and sound, $319.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 features:
- Light-emitting diode lighting
- Full cab interior
- Wire grab irons, Celcon handrails, and detailed fuel tank
- Die-cast metal frame
- All0wheel drive and electrical pickup
Release date: June 2025
Road names: CSX, Canadian Pacific, Conrail, Norfolk Southern, Seaboard System, and Union Pacific.
ScaleTrains Electro-Motive Division GP40 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $199.99; with DCC and sound, $299.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Electro-Motive Division GP40 features:
- Road number-specific details including number boards
- Light-emitting diode lighting including ground, walkway, Mars, and class lights
- Detailed cab interior with separate floor, cab blowers, rear wall, and seats
- Positionable cab windows
Road names: Rio Grande, Chicago & North Western, Louisville & Nashville, Milwaukee Road, Penn Central, and Western Pacific.
N scale passenger cars
Rapido Budd RDC
Price: Direct-current model, $149.95; with DCC and sound, $259.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Budd RDC features:
- Tinted windows and fully detailed interior
- Directional headlights
- Interior lighting
- Also available undecorated
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Amtrak; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Boston & Maine; BC Rail; Canadian National; Canadian Pacific Rail; MTA Metro North; New Haven; New York Central; Reading; Southern Pacific; and VIA Rail.
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 email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cgrivno@kalmbach.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bsleppy@kalmbach.com for more information.
