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 July 8, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
General Electric U23B diesel locomotive. New paint schemes. Low short hood: Missouri Pacific (blue and white) and Conrail Express (blue and white, one road number). New numbers. Low short hood: Lehigh Valley (Cornell Red and yellow); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (blue and yellow warbonnet); Chessie System (Chesapeake & Ohio reporting marks); and Delaware & Hudson (blue and gray). High short hood: Southern Ry. Three numbers per scheme unless noted; also available undecorated (three versions). Directional golden-white light-emitting-diode headlights, blackened metal wheels, and Accumate couplers. Direct-current model with 21-pin socket for Digital Command Control decoder and factory-installed speaker, $189.95; with ESU LokSound Select sound decoder, $299.95. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
Electro-Motive Division SW1200 diesel locomotive. Milwaukee Road (“Milwaukee Road” lettering on hood in one number, without hood lettering in two numbers); Baltimore & Ohio; Burlington Northern; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago & North Western; Conrail; Denver & Rio Grande Western; Grand Trunk Western (as delivered, orange-and-black, and red-and-blue schemes); Great Northern (Empire Builder); Missouri Pacific; New York, New Haven & Hartford; Northern Pacific; Penn Central (with “Penn Central” lettering on hood in two numbers, without in one number); Pennsylvania RR; Rock Island (red scheme in one road number, maroon with block lettering in two); Soo Line; and Southern Pacific. Three road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated in three styles. Prototype-specific details; die-cast metal frame, chassis, and gearboxes; and detailed cab interior. Direct-current model, $225; with dual-mode sound decoder, $335. Rapido Trains, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
Electro-Motive Division GP9 diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (Heritage I scheme), Grand Trunk Western (blue with orange ends and white sills), Kansas City Southern (white), National Rys. of Mexico (green and orange), New York Central (lightning stripe scheme), Soo Line (Candy Apple Red), Southern Pacific (“Kodachrome” scheme), and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray with “Serves All the West” slogan on cab sides). Three or four road numbers per scheme. Model based on Phase II prototype. Prototype-appropriate dynamic brakes, see-through steps, die-cast metal chassis, and molded drill-starter points for grab irons (detail kit sold separately). Direct-current model with 21-pin DCC plug, $139.98; with dual-mode ESU sound decoder, $199.98. WalthersMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale freight cars
Assorted freight car kits. Reading Co. two-bay panel-side hoppers (single car, $18.98; three-pack, $55.98). Burlington Northern Santa Fe American Car & Foundry two-bay Center Flow covered hopper (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald: single car, $20.98; three-pack, $61.95). Milwaukee Road 40-foot double-door ribbed-side boxcar, $19.98. Canadian Pacific 40-foot double-sheathed refrigerator car, $20.95. Maine Central 40-foot double-sheathed wood boxcar, $19.98. Injection-molded plastic kits with plastic wheelsets, trucks, and Accumate couplers. July/August 2021. Accurail, 630-365-1173, accurail.com
85-foot trash flatcar. Conrail (brown and white), Covanta (gray and black), ECDC Environmental (gray, black, and white with RSGX reporting marks), and Southern Pacific (brown and white). New road numbers: East Coast Carbon (orange and black) and General American Marks Co. (black and white with GIMX reporting marks). Three road numbers per scheme. Weighted underframe, 100-ton trucks with metal wheels, and open deck design. $74.95. Trainman Plus line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
55-ton two-bay fish-belly hopper. Western Maryland (brown with speed lettering); Akron, Canton & Youngstown (black); Cambria & Indiana (black); Central RR of Pennsylvania (black with Jersey Central Lines Statue of Liberty herald); Delaware & Hudson (blue and yellow with ballast doors in four road numbers and black with regular hopper bays); Norfolk Southern (pre-1982 company, gray); Norfolk & Western (black with peaked end); and Reading Co. (classes HTr and HTo). Three numbers per scheme unless noted. Injection-molded plastic with solid-bearing trucks and metal wheels. $29.95. April 2022. Executive Line. Bowser Trains, 570-368-2379, bowser-trains.com
HO scale structures
Modern Denny’s restaurant. Milled and laser-cut acrylic and styrene kit with self-adhesive micro-plywood and signs. Parts may need light sanding in joints for cosmetic reasons. Parking lot base shown not included. Measures 9-1/2” x 7” x 3”. $89.95. Summit USA, 337-436-8481, summit-customcuts.com
Merchant’s Row VI kit. Injection-molded plastic kit with modernized entrances; 1950s-1960s signs with full-color graphics for various businesses; and separate back porches, stairways, and downspouts. $44.98. Cornerstone Series. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale details and accessories
New Look bus. Calgary Transit, Chicago Transit Authority, Dallas Transit System, Denver Tramways, GO Transit (Toronto), Kansas City Metro, Milwaukee County, New Orleans Public Service, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (green and two-tone blue schemes), Ottawa OC Transpo, Rapido Trains no. 3380, Philadelphia (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority), San Francisco Muni (maroon “ribbon” and orange “Landor” schemes), Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines, and Winnipeg Transit. Also available painted but unlettered, and undecorated. Tubular profile based off 3-D scan of prototype bus, era-correct rear engine door, and detailed interior with separate seats, seatback handrails, and grooved flooring. Deluxe models include interior lighting; illuminated headlights, taillights, and front destination sign; painted seatback handrails; and two-tone seats as appropriate (lighting requires 12V direct-current power supply, not included). Standard model, $49.95; deluxe model, $69.95; undecorated kits (two styles), $29.95. Chicago Transit Authority and GO Transit models have a $10 premium due to licensing agreements. Rapido Trains, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
N scale locomotives
Steeple cab electric locomotive. Direct-current model with coreless motor, detailed and adjustable metal pantograph, and Kato knuckle couplers. $45. Pocket Line. Kato USA Inc., 847-781-9500, katousa.com
N scale freight cars
50-foot SIECO boxcar. Ashley, Drew & Northern (green and white); Boston & Maine (two-tone blue); Norfolk & Western (black); and Virginia Central (green). Primed for Grime: Atlantic & Western (Hutchison Northern patchouts) and Canadian Pacific (brown patchouts). Three road numbers per scheme. Photo-etched metal stirrup steps, screw-mounted trucks, and McHenry scale couplers. $49.99 (Primed for Grime, $54.99). August 2022. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
85-foot trash flatcar with municipal solid waste containers. New paint schemes: Conrail (brown and white), Covanta (gray and black), ECDC Environmental (gray, black, and white with RSGX reporting marks), and Southern Pacific (brown and white). New road numbers: East Coast Carbon (orange and white with DSEX marks) and General American Marks Co. (black with GIMX marks). Three road numbers per scheme. Open-deck design, 100-ton trucks with metal wheels, and weighted underframe. $56.95. Trainman Plus line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
N scale passenger cars
35-foot Overton passenger cars. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (yellow, green, and red); Boston & Maine (red and black); Canadian National (green, black, and yellow); Denver & Rio Grande Western (Aspen Gold and black); New York Central (green and yellow); and Southern Pacific (green and black). Single coach and four-car set (baggage, combine, coach, and observation car). Screw-mounted trucks, plastic underframe with brake cylinder, and McHenry couplers. Coach, $36.99; four-pack, $119.99. August 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Large scale locomotives
2-6-0 saddletank steam locomotive. Pennsylvania RR. Five-pole can-type ball-bearing motor, cab interior with engineer figure, and hook-and-loop couplers. $349.99. September 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Electronics/controls
Tsunami2 TSU-BH2 decoder. Upgrade for Bachmann HO Sound Value 2-6-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-2, Norfolk & Western Class J, and Southern Pacific class GS-4 steam locomotives. Features eight function outputs; 2A maximum motor stall current; 2 watt, 8-ohm load audio amplifier; and 16 channels. Can be used on 7.5V to 22V Digital Command Control track voltage. Measures 45 x 28 x 7.5mm. $115.95. SoundTraxx, 970-259-0690, soundtraxx.com
