For many years Hobbyshop Window was a popular department in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. We’re excited to bring it back as a frequent feature on Trains.com. Here’s a recap of some of the items that arrived at our offices for the week ending March 6th 2026. Keep up to date on the latest hobby news by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates.
Hobbyshop Window for March 6th 2026
HO scale American Car & Foundry-design 1,958-cubic-foot capacity two-bay covered hopper. This newly-tooled model from Walthers is decorated for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Ann Arbor; Chicago & North Western; Denver & Rio Grande Western; Erie; Halliburton; Kosmos Portland Cement Co.; and Southern Ry. in three road numbers per scheme. In addition, the HO scale car is available painted gray with data only and undecorated. Product features include see-through plastic running boards; separate, factory-applied discharge gates, vibrator brackets, air reservoir, and Ajax brake wheel; 33” metal wheels mounted on plastic axles; and body-mounted Proto-Max metal couplers. The covered hopper has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $39.98. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale American Car & Foundry 4,600-cubic-foot capacity three-bay Center Flow covered hopper. Road names on this Athearn Genesis model include Rock Island, Burlington Northern, First Union Rail (Primed for Grime), St. Marys Railway West (Primed for Grime), and Western Pacific. The HO scale car, offered in one to six road numbers per scheme, is also available undecorated in Phase I and II body styles. The model has round or trough hatches as appropriate; see-through, etched-metal running boards; wire grab irons; and 100-ton trucks with rotating bearing caps. Single cars are priced at $64.99 (Primed for Grime, $69.99). Three-packs list for $164.99. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
HO scale Alco RSC2 diesel locomotive. Soo Line, Milwaukee Road (orange-and-black and orange-and-gray paint schemes), Seaboard Air Line, Seaboard Coast Line, and Union Pacific are the paint schemes on this WalthersMainline model. The HO scale road locomotive, offered in two to four road numbers per scheme, has a heavy, die-cast metal chassis; constant, directional light-emitting-diode lighting; molded drill starter points for grab irons (detail kit 910-260 sold separately); and Proto-Max metal couplers. Direct-current models with a 21-pin DCC plug and a sugar cube speaker list for $199.98. Versions with ESU Sound & DCC retail for $254.98. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale 28-foot parcel trailers. These injection-molded plastic models are decorated for Roadway Package System and United Parcel Service (with and without logo) in four trailer numbers per scheme. Features on the HO scale trailers include vinyl tires, painted wheels, and raised and lowered landing gear. Trailers decorated for RPS sell for $31.99; models decorated for UPS are priced at $34.99. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
HO scale Amfleet coaches. Newly designed and tooled inside-bearing trucks, newly designed 36” metal wheels, and a simulated stainless steel finish are some of the highlights of these WalthersProto models. The HO scale Amfleet coaches are offered in the passenger carrier’s phase 3, 6, 2, and 7 schemes. Additional product features include factory-installed grab irons, smoked window glazing with gasket detail, and a detailed interior. The cars have a minimum radius of 24”. Phase 2, 3, and 6 cars are offered in two road numbers each and with user-applied decals. Phase 7 models are only offered with decals. Lighted cars have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $144.98. Unlighted cars list for $129.98. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Hobbyshop Window is a frequent feature on Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to see the latest arrivals from the industry’s leading companies. If you’re a manufacturer and would like to have your items featured in Hobbyshop Window, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com.
