News & Products for the week of August 18th 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 August 18th, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
Atlas Master General Electric U23B diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model with factory-installed speaker, $204.95 to $224.95; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $324.95 to $344.95
Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com
General Electric U23B features:
- Separate, factory-applied uncoupling levers, m.u. and train line hoses, and metal grab irons
- Blackened metal wheels
- Metal couplers
- Etched-metal windshield wipers
- Snow plow and ditch lights as appropriate
Release date: To be announced
Road names: New road numbers — Providence & Worcester and Conrail. New paint schemes — Finger Lakes Ry.; Louisville & Nashville (Family Lines); Naugatuck RR; Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern; and Western Pacific.
ScaleTrains General Electric ET44 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin connector, $194.99; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, two cube-type speakers, and ESU-designed PowerPack with two super capacitors, $304.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
General Electric ET44 features:
- Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and control stand
- See-through, etched-metal radiator intake and exhaust grills on sides and top of radiator compartment
- Factory-applied wire grab irons, snowplow, spare knuckles, m.u. and train line hoses with silver glad hands, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, mirrors, sunshades, air dryer, air tanks, and electronic bell on fuel tank
Release date: June 2026
Road names: Rivet Counter line —CPKC, BNSF Ry., CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific. HypoTypical line — Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Burlington Northern; Chessie System; Chicago & North Western; Conrail; and Denver & Rio Grande Western.
Walthers MainLine Alco RSC-2 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current mode with factory-installed speaker, $177.98; with ESU Sound & DCC, $242.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Alco RSC-2 features:
- Air- or water-cooled exhaust stack per prototype
- Die-cast metal chassis
- Molded drill starter points for grab irons (Detail kit No. 910-260 sold separately)
- Two to four road numbers per paint scheme
Release date: Winter 2026
Road names: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific; Milwaukee Road; Seaboard Air Line; Seaboard Coast Line; Soo Line; and Union Pacific.
HO scale passenger equipment
Atlas Master Metra Type 6000 and Type 8500 commuter cars
Price: Type 6000 trailer, $124.95; Type 8500 cab car, $144.95; and three-packs, $394.85
Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com
Metra Type 6000 and Type 8500 commuter car features:
- Illuminated interior with seat detail
- Factory-applied air horn, antenna, lift lugs, and diaphragms
- Metal wheels
- 21-pin plug for optional Digital Command Control operation
- Recommended minimum radius, 22″
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Metra (Single trailers and cab cars in as-delivered scheme. Three-pack [two trailers and cab car] in as-delivered and Operation North Pole schemes.)
HO scale rolling stock
Atlas Master standard and wide-cupola cabooses
Price: $51.95
Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com
Standard and wide-cupola caboose features:
- Thin end railings
- Window glazing
- Separate brake cylinder and smoke stack
- Triple valve and air reservoir
- Roller-bearing caboose trucks
- Running boards where appropriate
Release date: Third quarter 2026
Road names: New road numbers (wide-cupola caboose) — Burlington Northern, BC Rail, and Chessie System. New paint schemes (wide-cupola caboose unless noted) — Belvidere & Delaware (standard cupola), Conrail, Department of Defense, DuPont, Family Lines (Seaboard System), Mass Coastal, Norfolk Southern (standard cupola), and Union Pacific (Denver & Rio Grande Western shoving platform scheme). One to two road numbers per paint scheme.
WalthersMainline 81-foot eight-axle depressed center flatcar
Price: $44.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
81-foot eight-axle depressed center flatcar features:
- Die-cast metal body
- Separate air and handbrake details at both ends
- Articulated end platforms
- Four 100-ton trucks with 36″ metal wheels
- Also available undecorated
- Minimum radius, 22″; recommended radius, 24″
Release date: Fall 2025
Road names: TTX; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; New York Central; Norfolk & Western; Pittsburgh & Lake Erie; Siemens Westinghouse; Southern Ry.; and Western Pacific.
WalthersProto express boxcar (converted troop cars)
Price: $63.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Express boxcar (converted troop cars) features:
- Body includes rivet seams and diaphragms
- Factory-installed grab irons and steps
- Separate, non-opening side doors with or without windows per prototype
- High-speed, passenger-style trucks
- All three body styles available undecorated
Release date: Winter 2026
Road names: Chesapeake & Ohio troop sleeper conversion — Chesapeake & Ohio (tri-color and green schemes), Baltimore & Ohio (blue and green schemes), Boston & Maine, and maintenance of way (Tuscan). Chicago, Burlington & Quincy troop kitchen conversion — Alaska RR; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago & Eastern Illinois; Missouri Pacific; Monon; and maintenance of way (green). New York Central troop sleeper conversion — Alaska RR; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Erie; New York Central; St. Louis-San Francisco; and Rock Island.
HO scale details
WalthersCornerstone short beam bridge
Price: $28.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Short beam bridge features:
- Short and tall configuration included in same kit
- Bridge ties designed to accept WalthersTrack code 83 or code 100 rail
- Molded in dark brown plastic
- Tall version: 2-7/16″ x 5-1/4″ x 1-1/2″ (1-1/8″ clearance); short version: 2-7/16″ x 4-1/8″ x 15/16″ (19/32″ clearance)
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.
