National Steel Car gondola from Athearn

Illustration showing high-side gondola

Athearn Trains announced that it will be releasing a National Steel Car 6,400-cubic-foot capacity gondola in its Genesis series. The newly tooled model, which will be offered in N and HO scales, will have a detailed underbody, removable debris covers on later variants, and Barber S2E 100-ton trucks with rotating roller-bearing caps. Road names and […]

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Two-bay hopper with exterior posts from PIKO America

Model of black hopper with CSX markings in front of white background

Two-bay hopper with exterior posts Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $76.99 Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Hopper features: Simulated coal load Molded handrails and stirrup steps Plastic wheelsets Hook-and-loop couplers Minimum recommended radius, 23.6” Release date: October 2022 Paint scheme: CSX (black and yellow). One road […]

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Athearn 40-foot ballast hopper

Drawing of a green ballast hopper

40-foot ballast hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $42.99; four-pack, $149.99 Era: 1960s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com  40-foot ballast hopper features: Removable load Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons and brake wheel Injection-molded plastic body Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers Solid nickel silver wheels with RP-25 […]

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Mainline tie plate strips from Berkshire Design

Recangular brown sprue holding tie plates

Mainline tie plate strips Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $24.99 Manufacturer: Berkshire Design LLC, 2791 Jude Island Way, Naples, FL 34119; berkshiredesign.net Mainline tie plate strip features: Works with any National Model Railroad Association standard code 70 rail; also compatible with Micro Engineering code 83 rail and standard code 55 rail (latter requires extra care to keep rail in […]

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Ore car two-packs from PIKO America

Two black ore cars with Chessie System decoration on track with white background

Ore cars Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: Two-pack, $124.99 Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Ore cars feature: Molded ladders and stirrup steps Plastic wheelsets Hook-and-loop couplers Minimum recommended radius, 23.6” Release date: October 2022 Paint schemes: Chessie System (black with Baltimore & Ohio reporting marks) and […]

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Sartore & Sons Electrical Supply Co. from Rail Scale Models

Diorama of two industrial buildings with train tracks running in-between

Sartore & Sons Electrical Supply Co. Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $130 Manufacturer: Rail Scale Models, 514 Angel’s Way Lane, Horse Shoe, NC 28742; 248-421-6276; rail-scale-models.com Sartore & Sons Electrical Supply Co. features: Injection-molded and laser-cut components Two clerestory structures Stair stringer assemblies with assembly jig Styrene strip and basswood for bracing and detailing Styrene tube and piano wire […]

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John Henry steel refrigerator car by PIKO America

Brown refrigerator car with painting of John Henry on side in front of white background

John Henry steel refrigerator car Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $124.99 Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Features: Molded ladder and door details Factory-applied brake wheel, running boards, and stirrup steps Plastic wheelsets Hook-and-loop couplers Minimum recommended radius, 23.6” Release date: October 2022 Paint scheme: John Henry […]

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Halloween-themed ore cars from PIKO America

Two ore car models on track with halloween graphics on sides in front of white background

Halloween-themed ore cars Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: Two-pack, $165.99 Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Ore cars feature: Glow-in-the-dark highlights Molded ladders and stirrup steps Plastic wheelsets Hook-and-loop couplers Minimum recommended radius, 23.6” Release date: October 2022 Paint scheme: Halloween “Howler” (black and orange cars). One-time […]

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International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose from Tangent Scale Models

Model of dark blue bay-window caboose in front of white background

International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $106.95 Era: 1968+ to 1980s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Tangent Scale Models, P.O. Box 6514, Asheville, NC 28816; 828-412-3886; tangentscalemodels.com International Car Co. Baltimore & Ohio I-18 steel bay-window caboose features: Kadee scale couplers Era-specific body details, including bay […]

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Halloween-themed offset-side two-bay hoppers from PIKO America

Model of two-bay hopper with halloween artwork on side in front of white background

Halloween-themed offset-side two-bay hoppers Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $111.99 each Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Halloween hopper features: Glow-in-the-dark highlights Molded handrails and stirrup steps Plastic wheelsets Hook-and-loop couplers Minimum recommended radius, 23.6” Release date: September 2022 Paint schemes: Monster Mayhem and Tacky Tombstones No. […]

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Pedestrian barriers and photographers with working camera flash in HO scale

Road scene with photographers behind pedestrian barriers

Pedestrian barriers and photographers with flash Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Pedestrian barrier 16-pack and photographer with working camera flash, $20 each Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Pedestrian barrier features: 3-D printed parts Figures and display not included Photographer features: Works on 9-12V AC or DC power On/off switch included Four […]

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Freight building block car R/C starter set from PIKO America

Small orange locomotive and two flat cars on track with building blocks in foreground and white background

Freight building block car R/C starter set Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $439.99 Era: Modern Manufacturer: PIKO America LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Freight building block car R/C starter set features: Includes General Electric 25-ton diesel locomotive, two flatcars with building block decks, R/C pocket remote with eight selectable […]

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