News & Products for the week of June 17th 2024

News & Products for the week of June 17th 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 June 17th 2024.

HO scale locomotives

Rapido General Electric C36-7

Price: Direct-current model, $249.95; with DCC and sound, $359.95

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

General Electric C36-7 features:

• Rockwell or Adirondack trucks per prototpye
• Four window, four window (modified), or two window cab per prototype
• Road specific battery box doors
• Detailed cab interior

Release date: To be announced

Road names: Missouri Pacific, Burlington Northern, Conrail, National Railways of Mexico, Norfolk & Western, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific.

HO scale freight cars

Accurail Illinois Terminal 36-foot double sheath boxcar

Price: $20.98

Manufacturer: Accurail, P.O. Box 278, Elburn, IL 60119; 630-365-1173; accurail.com

Illinois Terminal 36-foot double sheath boxcar features:

• Injection-molded plastic construction
• Includes steel weight, plastic trucks and wheelsets, and Accumate couplers

Release date: August 2024 

Road names: Illinois Terminal

ScaleTrains ExactRail Evolution Gunderson 6269 high-cube boxcar

Price: $39.99

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

Gunderson 6269 high-cube boxcar features:

• Separately applied brake wheel
• Separately applied door tracks and door bars
• Wire grab irons

Release date: Late 2024

Road names: CSX, COER, GATX, Norfolk Southern, Tomahawk Railway, and Trailer Train.

WalthersProto Ortner 40-foot open hopper

Price: $44.98

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

Ortner 40-foot open hopper features:

• Factory installed air-equipped door details per prototype
• Factory installed wire grab irons and end railings
• Removable load included
• Detailed brake gear

Release date: Fall 2024 

Road names: Conrail, CSX Transportation, Florida East Coast, Georgetown RR, Norfolk Southern, and Western Railroad.

HO scale structures

WalthersSceneMaster laser-cut structure kits 

Price: Varies — contact manufacturer

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

Laser-cut structure kits features:

• Laser-cut wood structure kits
• Designs include: Fisherman’s shanty, outhouse, elevated deer stand, and forest cabin.

Release date: Summer 2024

N scale freight cars

Athearn Genesis Trailer Train F89-F bi-level auto rack

Price: $49.99

Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com

Trailer Train F89-F bi-level auto rack features:

• Die-cast underframe
• Detailed deck
• Undulating safety railing

Release date: October 2025 

Road names: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Norfolk Southern; Norfolk & Western; Southern Ry.; and St. Louis-San Francisco.

Z scale locomotives

American Z Line General Electric ES44AC diesel locomotive

Price: Contact manufacturer

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

General Electric ES44AC features:

• Directionally controlled lighting
• Blackened metal wheels
• DCC ready

Release date: To be announced

Road names: BNSF

Z scale freight cars

American Z Line Ortner hoppers

Price: Contact manufacturer

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

Ortner hoppers features:

• Available in two- and four-packs

Release date: To be announced 

Road names: Conrail

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.