News & Products for the week of July 8th 2024

News & Products for the week of July 8th 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 July 8th 2024.

HO scale locomotives

Cardinal River Models Class S-2 Berkshire steam locomotive

Price: DCC model with sound, $699.99

Manufacturer: Cardinal River Models, 502-767-4716, cardinalrivermodels@gmail.com, cardinalrivermodels.com

Class S-2 Berkshire steam locomotive features:

• Die-cast frame, chassis, cab, boiler and tender 
• Removable extra flags and side push pole
• Also available undecorated
• Read more: Cardinal River Models’ Super Power startup

Release date: Early 2025

Road names: Nickel Plate Road

ScaleTrains Electro-Motive Division SD40T-2

Price: Direct-current model, $199.00; with DCC and sound, $299.00

Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com

Electro-Motive Division SD40T-2 features:

• Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and standard AAR control stand
• Sliding cab side windows
• 4,400 gallon fuel tank with reinforced tank edges
• Frame-mounted bell

Release date: January 2025

Road names: Denver & Rio Grande Western and Southern Pacific.

HO scale freight cars

Rapido UTLX X-3 tank car

Price: Single car, $59.95; six-pack, $359.70

Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com

UTLX X-3 tank car features:

• Andrews or “Bettendorf” cast steel trucks
• Underbody detailing includes two distinct brake systems
• Prototype-accurate diameter domes and dome fittings
• Also available undecorated

Release date: To be announced 

Road names: Procor, Products Tank Car, and UTLX.

WalthersMainline 50-foot mechanical refrigerator car

Price: $34.98

Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com

50-foot mechanical refrigerator car features:

• Diagonal panel roof with separately applied exhaust stack
• Detailed plug doors, refrigerator inlet, and outlet grilles
• Late improved Dreadnaught ends
• See-through running board
• Detailed underbody with fuel tanks and brake gear

Release date: Fall 2024

Road names: Burlington Northern; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Milwaukee Road; Pacific Fruit Express; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; and Union Pacific. 

N scale locomotives

Kato General Electric AC4400CW

Price: Direct-current model, $143.00; with DCC, $243.00; with DCC and sound, $343.00

Manufacturer: Kato USA Inc., 100 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173; www.katousa.com

General Electric AC4400CW features:

• Directional headlights with light-emitting diode ditchlights and number box lights
  
• Kato magnetic knuckle couplers

Release date: To be announced

Road names: BNSF

Z scale locomotives

American Z Line Electro-Motive Division SD40-2

Price: Contact manufacturer

Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com

Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 features:

• Separately applied sunshades
• Open grid radiators
• DCC-ready

Release date: To be announced

Road names: Baltimore & Ohio

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 cody.grivno@firecrown.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bryson.sleppy@firecrown.com for more information.