News & Products for the week of March 24th 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 March 24th, 2025.
News
Kato announces Electro-Motive Division SD70ACU in N scale
Kato has recently announced an N scale Electro-Motive Division SD70ACU. The prototype, rebuilt by Norfolk Southern and Progress Rail, started life as an SD90MAC before upgrades which included Mitsubishi electronic components and a new cab. Per Kato, this model will feature all-new tooling. Pricing, features, and available road names are not yet public, but are expected later this year.
HO scale locomotives
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter Electro-Motive Division SD7
Price: Direct-current model, $204.99; with DCC and sound, $304.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Electro-Motive Division SD7 features:
- Factory-applied details include wire grab irons, end ladders, photo-etch lift rings, windshield wipers, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, signal hoses with silver gladhands, and air tanks with plumbing
- Underbody air filter details
- Separately applied sand fill hatches
- Sliding cab side windows
- Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and control stand
Release date: October 2025
Road names: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; Southern Pacific; and Union Pacific.
HO scale rolling stock
Athearn Roundhouse 50-foot flatcar
Price: $39.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
50-foot flatcar features:
- Fully assembled
- Separate brake wheel
Release date: September 2026
Road names: Boston & Maine, Great Northern, Milwaukee Road, Newhaven, Reading, United States Army, and United States Department of Defense.
WalthersMainline 40-foot double sheathed wood boxcar
Price: $34.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
40-foot double sheathed wood boxcar features:
- Fishbelly underframe
- Vertical handbrake staff
- 5-5-5 Murphy steel ends
- Flat steel roof
Release date: Summer 2025
Road names: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Florida East Coast; New York Central; Northern Pacific; Northwestern Pacific; St. Louis-San Francisco; and St. Louis Southwestern.
N scale rolling stock
Bowser two-bay covered hopper
Price: $32.95
Manufacturer: Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 1302 Jordan Ave., Montoursville, PA 17754; 570-368-2379; bowser-trains.com
Two-bay covered hopper features:
- Separately applied grab irons
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Central Soya; Chesapeake & Ohio; Detroit, Toledo & Ironton; Great Northern; Halliburton; Lehigh & New England; Missouri-Kansas-Texas; Southern Ry.; Southern Pacific; and Union Carbide.
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.
