Product news
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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 13, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division GP40-2 and GP40-2L diesel locomotives. GP40: Chessie System (with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks and Baltimore & Ohio marks with CSX number in one number each, with B&O marks and CSX patchout in two numbers each), Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacifico (gray and blue, one number), Ferromex (gray and red, two numbers), and Seaboard System (gray and yellow). GP40-2L: Canadian National (zebra stripes); Indiana Harbor Belt (black and orange); and Toledo, Peoria & Western (RailAmerica scheme). Three numbers per scheme unless noted. Railroad-specific details, light-emitting-diode lighting, McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $219.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $309.99. May 2022. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
HO scale freight cars
40-foot boxcar with Superior door. Boston & Maine (two-tone blue); Erie Lackawanna (Boxcar Red); Great Northern (dark green); Louisville & Nashville (blue); New York, New Haven & Hartford (orange); Rutland (yellow and green); and Southern Pacific (brown with Texas & New Orleans reporting marks). Three road numbers per scheme. Superior-style door, solid-bearing trucks with 33” metal wheels, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. $34.99. May 2022. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
24- and 36-foot cabooses. Kit includes stripwood decking, Tichy Train Group detail parts, and Conowingo RR decals but no trucks or couplers. 24-foot caboose, $25; 36-foot caboose, $30. Add $5 for Kadee 148 couplers and Tichy Train Group archbar trucks. Conowingo Models, conowingomodels.com
HO scale details and accessories
Boxcar interiors. For Atlas 60-foot single- and double-door auto parts boxcars and Athearn “blue box” 50-foot double-door Railbox boxcars. Laser cut cardstock kits. $4.25 each; three-pack, $11.95. The Electric Wallpaper Co., roometteslighting.com
Roomettes building interiors. Spruce Street Row House (fits Walthers no. 933-3778 Row House), $26.95. Broekema Auto Sales (fits Walthers no. 933-4023 Import Motors. Includes three light-emitting diodes, sales counter, posters, exterior signs, and flag streamers), $21.95. Laser cut cardstock kits. The Electric Wallpaper Co., roometteslighting.com
N scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (Heritage I scheme), CSX (YN1 scheme), GATX Locomotive Group (blue and black), and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray with Little Rock block lettering). One road number per scheme. Econami Sound Value dual-mode decoder, directional headlights with Rule 17 dimming, and E-Z Mate Mark II couplers. $299. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, bachmanntrains.com
Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. BHP Iron Ore (bubbles scheme), BNSF Ry. (Heritage III scheme), Canadian Pacific (red with beaver Harold scheme), CSX (YN2), Florida East Coast (Champion scheme), Milwaukee Road (billboard scheme), Missouri Pacific (“screaming eagle” scheme), and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray with lightning stripe). Two road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. ABS plastic body with die-cast metal chassis, dual-mode Paragon4 decoder featuring Rolling Thunder, and all-wheel electrical pickup (except for rubber traction tire). $259.99. Broadway Limited Imports, 386-673-8900, broadway-limited.com
N scale freight cars
Thrall high-side gondola. Burlington Northern (black and white); David J. Joseph Co. (black and red); Herzog (brown and red-and-white schemes); Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion (black and yellow); Wisconsin Electric (green and white); and Ziegler Coal Co. (black and yellow). Ten road numbers per scheme (single car and three three-packs). Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers, screw-mounted trucks, and load. $34.99; three-pack, $94.99. May 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Large scale locomotives
Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-6-0 Mini Mogul steam locomotive. 5-pole can-type ball-bearing motor, hook-and-loop couplers, and cab interior with engineer figure. Direct-current model. Analog and digital sound and smoke units available separately. $369.99. July 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Large scale freight cars
Ore car. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (brown with “Ship and Travel Santa Fe – All the Way” slogan) and Union Pacific (yellow with American flag). One road number per scheme. Ore load, hook-and-loop couplers, and plastic wheels. $62.99. July 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Z scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division E7A and E7B diesel locomotives. Seaboard Air Line. Two A-B sets. Direct-current model with 7mm motor, dual flywheels, metal steps, directional light-emitting-diode lighting, optional front truck with mounted coupler, blackened metal wheels, and AutoLatch couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Z scale freight cars
General American Tank Car Co. 1917 8,000-gallon non-insulated tank car. Warren. Seven road numbers (single car, two-pack, and four-pack). Blackened metal wheels, add-on parts, solid-bearing trucks, and AutoLatch couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Books
Plymouth Locomotives Vol. 1. Reprints of ads and brochures for Plymouth Locomotive Works. Includes Plymouth Mine-O-Motives, Plymouth Torqomotive, Plymouth bulletins, and MDT four- and six-wheel locomotives. Softcover, 86 pages. $35. Manufacturers’ Catalog Archive series. SilverLake Images LLC and Ron’s Books, 914-967-7541, ronsbooks.com
Tools
21-piece mini tool set. Includes five hex-nut drivers, six slotted screwdrivers, three hex-key drivers, two Phillips-head screwdrivers, and five open-ended wrenches. Tools have chrome-plated handles with rust-resistant tempered steel drives. Includes plastic storage box. $19.99. Produced by Excel Blades, available from Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com
Hemostats. Curved and straight nose. Stainless steel construction, three-level locking position mechanism, and serrated jaws. $7.99 each. Produced by Excel Blades, available from Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com
Club offerings
Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England 53-foot gondola. Tangent Scale Models car custom-decorated for the New England Steam Corp. Five road numbers. $38.95 plus $8 shipping for one car and $1 for each additional car. Check or money order to David Clinton, 11 Hancock Rd., Hingham, MA 02043; newenglandsteam.org
