News & Products for the week of March 31st 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 31st, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter Electro-Motive Division SD9 diesel locomotive
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 SD9 features:
- Prototype- and road-specific details
- Factory-applied details include wire grab irons, end ladders, photo-etch lift rings, windshield wipers, train line hoses with silver glad hands, signal hoses with silver glad hands, and air tanks with plumbing
- Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and control stand
Release date: October 2025
Road names: Conrail and Norfolk Southern.
WalthersProto Electro-Motive Division GP9 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $219.98; with DCC and sound, $319.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Electro-Motive Division GP9 features:
- Wire grab irons and photo-etched lift rings
- Die-cast metal underframe
- Road-specific details
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Spring 2026
Road names: Chesapeake & Ohio, Chicago & North Western, Penn Central, Southern Pacifc, and Western Maryland.
HO scale rolling stock
Athearn Roundhouse 36-foot wood refrigerator car
Price: $39.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
36-foot wood refrigerator car features:
- 33″ metal wheels
- McHenry scale couplers
- Minimum radius, 18″
Release date: September 2026
Road names: Dubuque Packing, Oscar Mayer, Purina, Schlitz, Southern Pacific, and Wilson.
Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club three-bay covered hoppers
Price: $37
Manufacturer: Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club, P.O. Box 745, Blue Hill, ME 04614; easternmainemodelrailroadclub.org
Three-bay covered hoppers features:
- Custom-painted Atlas Master line model
- Based on prototypes seen on the Maine Central
Release date: Available now
Road names: Agway, Maine Marine Products Co., and W.H. Shurtleff Co. Salt — Chemicals
N scale locomotives
Kato General Electric ES44 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $125; with DCC, $225; with DCC and sound, $325
Manufacturer: Kato USA Inc., 100 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173; katousa.com
General Electric ES44 features:
- Road-specific details
- Directional headlights
- Kato magnetic knuckle couplers
Release date: To be announced
Road names: BNSF Ry., Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CPKC, CSX, Florida East Coast, and Union Pacific.
Rapido VIA Rail F40PH-2D diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $159.95; with DCC and sound, $269.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
VIA Rail F40PH-2D features:
- Separate, factory-installed grab irons and handrails
- Underbody details including separate piping
- Prototype-specific rooftop details
Release date: 2026
Road names: 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 e-mail Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bryson.sleppy@firecrown.com for more information.
