News & Products for the week of October 28th 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 October 28th 2024.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Genesis Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive with Snowbus caboose
Price: Direct-current model, $799.99; with DCC and sound, $899.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy with Snowbus caboose features:
- 2024 style new “Big Boy” font printed on smokebox door
- Additional “plaques” applied to boiler and tender
- “Polished” cylinder heads and paint finish
- Correctly operating eccentric cranks
- Adjustable top cab vent and cab windows
Release date: March 2026
Road names: Union Pacific
WalthersMainline Electro-Motive Division SD60 spartan cab diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $159.98; with DCC and sound, $214.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Electro-Motive Division SD60 spartan cab features:
- Molded drill starter points for grab irons (sold separately)
- Die-cast metal chassis
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Canadian Pacific; CIT Group; New York, Susquehanna & Western; Kansas City Southern; Oakway; and Soo Line.
HO scale freight cars
Accurail American Car Foundry three-bay covered hopper kit
Price: $22.98
Manufacturer: Accurail, P.O. Box 278, Elburn, IL 60119; 630-365-1173; accurailinc.com
American Car Foundry three-bay covered hopper kit features:
- Also available undecorated
- Separate modeler-installed detail parts
Release date: To be announced
Road names: FMC Chemicals
WalthersMainline Pullman-Standard PS4000 50-foot high-side gondola
Price: $31.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Pullman-Standard PS4000 50-foot high-side gondola features:
- Separately-applied, factory-installed internal bracing & brake gear
- 36-inch metal wheelsets
- Also available undecorated
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Burlington Northern, Consumers Power, Detroit Edison, Fayette Power Project, Joseph Transport, and Southern.
HO scale passenger cars
Rapido Pullman-Standard 14-4 “Point” sleeper
Price: $139.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Pullman-Standard 14-4 “Point” sleeper features:
- Multiple road numbers available
- Full underbody details
- Detailed interior with optional extras
- Factory installed separate grab irons
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Long Island, New Haven, and Penn Central.
N scale freight cars
Athearn Pullman-Standard 4427 covered hopper
Price: $34.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Pullman-Standard 4427 covered hopper features:
- Fully assembled
- 36-inch machined metal wheels and RP-25 contours
Release date: March 2026
Road names: Chicago & North Western, International Minerals & Chemical Corporation, Louis Dreyfus Corporation, Missouri Pacific, Missouri-Kansas-Texas, and Union Pacific.
Z scale locomotives
American Z Line Alco RS-3
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Alco RS-3 features:
- Two road numbers available
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Norfolk & Western
Z scale rolling stock
American Z Line wide vision caboose
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Wide vision caboose features:
- Roller bearing trucks
- AutoLatch couplers
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Canadian Pacific
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.
