News & Products for the week of September 16th 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 September 16th 2024.
HO scale locomotives
WalthersMainline General Electric ES44AC diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current mode, $164.98; with DCC and sound, $219.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
General Electric ES44AC features:
- Correct profile radiator grills & rooftop walkway surface details
- Two truck styles per prototype
- 2- or 4-vent dynamic brake vent per prototype
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: BNSF, Canadian National, Ferromex, Kansas City Southern, and Union Pacific.
HO scale freight cars
Accurail 40-foot insulated steel boxcar kit
Price: $20.98
Manufacturer: Accurail, P.O. Box 278, Elburn, IL 60119; 630-365-1173; accurail.com
40-foot insulated steel boxcar kit features:
- Also available undecorated
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Chicago West Pullman & Southern
Accurail 40-foot wood stock car
Price: $21.98
Manufacturer: Accurail, P.O. Box 278, Elburn, IL 60119; 630-365-1173; accurail.com
40-foot wood stock car features:
- Fishbelly underframe
- Also available undecorated
Release date: November 2024
Road names: Pacific Electric
Athearn Gunderson 60-foot boxcar
Price: $49.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Gunderson 60-foot boxcar features:
- Double door high-cube design
- Add $5 for Prime for Grime
- Separately applied wire grab irons and etched end platforms
Release date: January 2026
Road names: Crab Orchard & Egyptian, CSX, General American, Kansas City Southern, Northwestern Oklahoma, and TTX.
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter PS-Trinity backpacker well cars
Price: $154.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
PS-Trinity backpacker well cars features:
- Sold as five-car set
- Photo-etched stainless steel see-through walkways
- Detailed floors and well interior sidewalls
- Factory-applied metal grab irons, coupler cut levers, and trainline hoses
- Add $45 for five 40-foot Maersk containers
Release date: Summer 2025
Road names: Burlington Northern, and Trailer Train.
HO scale details
Athearn Stoughton 53-foot container
Price: Three-pack, $44.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Stoughton 53-foot container features:
- Fully assembled
- Stackable
- Separately applied door closure rods
Release date: January 2026
Road names: EMP, Hub Group, Schneider, Sea Train, Southern Pacific, and Thoroughbred Direct.
N scale structures
WalthersCornerstone brick church
Price: $49.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Brick church features:
- Molded in 4 colors with clear acetate windows
- Front signboard with printed paper signs
- Detailed belfry with steeple
- Two different front doors
Release date: Winter 2025
Z scale freight cars
American Z Line Ortner hoppers
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Ortner hoppers features:
- Available in two- and four-packs
Release date: To be announced
Road names: DJJ
Books
Twin Port Trains — The Historic Railroads of Duluth & Superior 1870-1970
Price: $65.00
Manufacturer: Jeff Lemke Trains, (630) 893-5719, jefflemketrains@att.net, twinportsrailhistory.com
Twin Port Trains — The Historic Railroads of Duluth & Superior 1870-1970 features:
- Written by Tony Dierckins and Jeff Lemke
- Nominated for 2025 Minnesota Book Award
- 224 pages
- Hard cover
Release date: Available now
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.
