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 September 9, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division MP15 diesel locomotive. CSX (dark blue and yellow), Lake State Ry. (blue and gray, two road numbers), Long Island Rail Road (solid blue and yellow and blue, gray, and yellow schemes, two road numbers each), Milwaukee Road (orange and black), and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray with UPY reporting marks). Three road numbers per scheme unless noted. Upgraded motor, detailed cab interior, and McHenry scale couplers. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $229.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $329.99. October 2022. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division SD50 diesel locomotive. Chessie System (yellow, vermillion, and blue with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks); Chicago & North Western (yellow and green); Conrail (blue with “can opener” herald); CSX (yellow, blue, and gray); Denver & Rio Grande Western (black and orange with “Flying Grande” lettering); Kansas City Southern (grey and yellow); Norfolk Southern (black and white); and Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern (green, gray, and yellow). Four road numbers per scheme (two each in direct current and Digital Command Control). Upgraded power trucks with HT-C sideframes, see-through steps and detailed dynamic brake air intake, and anti-slip detail on walkways. Direct-current model, $149.98; with dual-mode ESU sound and Digital Command Control, $209.98. October 2021. WalthersMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale freight cars
36-foot old-time stockcar. Canada Cattle Car Co.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (“S. Kraus Live Stock Commission Merchant Kansas City Stock Yards” lettering); Canadian National; Rock Island; St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern; St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt); and Union Pacific. Three road numbers per scheme. Separate, factory-applied running board; 33” RP-25 contour metal wheels; and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. $34.99. October 2022. Roundhouse line. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
50-foot high-cube waffle-side boxcar. Chessie System (dark blue with Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks), Illinois Central (gray), Seaboard Coast Line (brown), Maine Central (white Guilford scheme), Southern Ry. of British Columbia (red with Catalyst lettering), and TTX Co. (yellow and black with current Railbox and current TTX logos). Three road numbers per scheme. Separate, factory-applied brake wheel; RP-25 contour machined metal wheels; and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. $34.99. October 2022. Roundhouse line. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
70-ton Hart ballast car. New paint schemes: Conway Scenic (black and yellow, one road number) and Southern Ry. (orange and black). New road numbers: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (brown with reporting marks only); British Columbia (green with Dogwood herald); Canadian National (brown with “wet noodle” herald); Denver & Rio Grande Western (brown with Royal Gorge/Moffat Tunnel herald and “Scenic Line of the World” slogan), and Erie (black). Five numbers per scheme unless noted (two single cars and one three-pack per scheme). Separate, factory-applied grab irons, uncoupling levers, train line hose, and air brake piping detail; die-cast metal underframe; and Accumate couplers. Single car, $41.95 (undecorated, $31.95); three-pack, $125.85. Second quarter 2022. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com
Chesapeake & Ohio cupola caboose. Alaska (yellow and blue); Black River Western (green and yellow, one road number); Chesapeake & Ohio (yellow and blue); Chicago & Illinois Midland (green and red); Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (red and yellow); General Electric (yellow and blue, one number); Metro North (blue and white, one number); and Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (blue and white). Two road numbers per scheme unless noted, also available undecorated. Separate, factory-applied side railings; metal wheelsets; and Accumate couplers. $41.95 (undecorated, $34.95). Second quarter 2022. Trainman Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com
HO scale details and accessories
53-foot trailer. Athearn (white, blue, and 75th anniversary schemes, one road number each), Bay Logistics (white), Bison Transport (white), Millis Transfer (white with “Getting It There!” slogan), Wills (white), and Wonder Bread (white with “Fresh…Fresh…Fresh!” slogan). Three trailer numbers per scheme unless noted. Etched metal hazmat placards where applicable; painted roof, lights, conspicuity stripes, and door closure rods; and positionable tandem. $34.99. October 2022. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Custom-lighted Walthers SceneMaster hazmat truck. Features 42 light-emitting diodes in nine flashing patterns. Includes alternating headlights, 12 Cool White scene lights, operating light bar with red LEDs, eight red and blue rear perimeter warning lights, four red cab perimeter warning lights, six red side perimeter warning lights, and amber operating hazard lights. 9 to 12V DC only. $90. East Coast Circuits, 201-506-1448, eastcoastcircuits.com
Custom-lighted Walthers SceneMaster pumper truck. Features 28 light-emitting diodes in six flashing patterns. Includes alternating headlights; six Cool White scene lights; red front light bar, rear beacons, and bumper perimeter lighting; four each red rear perimeter and cab perimeter warning lights; two amber side clearance marker lights; and amber operating hazard lights. 9 to 12V DC only. $85. East Coast Circuits, 201-506-1448, eastcoastcircuits.com
N scale locomotives
4-6-6-4 Challenger steam locomotive. Denver & Rio Grande Western (coal burner with dual smoke stacks, one road number) and Union Pacific (modern excursion version and coal burner with dual smoke stacks and smoke lifters in one number each, coal burner with dual smoke stacks and tender bunker coal extensions in two numbers, and two-tone gray with yellow lettering and striping). Pivoting front and rear engines, light-emitting-diode directional lighting, and McHenry couplers. Direct-current model with Quick Plug for Digital Command Control decoder, $399.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $499.99. October 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
N scale freight cars
American Car & Foundry 4,600-cubic-foot capacity three-bay Center Flow covered hopper. ACF Leasing (gray); The Andersons Inc. (blue in one road number and Primed for Grime Grand Trunk Western patchout in two numbers; Chicago & North Western (yellow); Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (brown [two single cars] and gray [three-pack only]); Grand Trunk Western (blue and white); and Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (gray). Five road numbers per scheme [two single cars and one three-pack] unless noted. Three body styles (early, mid, and late); separate, factory-applied wire grab irons and stirrup steps; and McHenry couplers. Single car, $37.99 (Primed for Grime, $42.99); three-pack, $94.99. October 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com