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 March 25, 2021
HO scale freight cars
Pullman-Standard PS-2 two-bay covered hopper. New paint schemes: Boston & Maine (gray, white, and orange Guilford scheme with “Sand Car” stencil), Burlington Northern (yellow with “Scale Monitor Car” lettering, two road numbers), Central of Georgia (gray and black), Penn Central (Deepwater Green), and Smith Douglass Fertilizer (gray and black). New road numbers: Norfolk & Western (green and white), Northern Pacific (gray and black), and Pennsylvania RR (gray and black with shadow keystone). Three numbers per scheme unless noted; also available undecorated. Accumate couplers, detailed brake gear, and 50-ton solid-bearing or 70-ton roller-bearing trucks as appropriate. $33.95 (undecorated, $27.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Trainman line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
American Car & Foundry 11,000-gallon insulated tank car. Southern Indiana Liquified Gas Co. (1948 factory new). One road number. Injection-molded plastic with separate, factory-applied details; step platform; metal wheels; and Kadee scale couplers. $45.95. Kadee Quality Products Co., 541-826-3883, kadee.com
Northeastern design caboose. Central RR of New Jersey (Liberty and Coast Guard schemes), Chessie System, Conrail, Lehigh & New England, Lehigh Valley (Black Diamond and Tuscan schemes), Reading Co. (red and green-and-yellow schemes), and Western Maryland (Fast Freight Line and speed lettering schemes). Andrews, Birdsboro, or Taylor trucks as appropriate; two different cupola roofs; three different end walls; two- or three-tread steps; multiple optional parts (stacks, window blanks, etched-metal window frame and screens, tool boxes, and more); full Duryea cushion underframe detail; tuned metal wheels; operating interior lights; and factory-installed Kadee no. 158 couplers. $99.95. 2022 delivery. Rapido Trains, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
Santa Fe Refrigerated Despatch Class RR-56, RR-60, and RR-61 mechanical refrigerator cars. RR-56: Chief, El Capitan, San Francisco Chief, Santa Fe All the Way, Super Chief, and Texas Chief slogans. RR-60 and RR-61: San Francisco Chief and Santa Fe All the Way slogans. Separate, factory-applied door posts, door latches, and uncoupling levers; detailed underframe with piping and equipment; positionable roof hatches; see-through side grills; Trane diesel generator; and Kadee no. 158 whisker couplers. Optional sound unit available. Single car, $59.95; six-pack, $239.80. 2022 delivery. Rapido Trains, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
HO scale details and accessories
45-foot Fruehauf Z-Van trailer. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Primed for Grime white with blue lettering and circle-cross herald); Availco (Primed for Grime with “Preferred Pool” lettering); Boston & Maine (white with two-tone blue stripes); Conrail (white with blue “can opener” herald and “Trailvan” lettering); Denver & Rio Grande Western (“The Action Railroad” slogan); Milwaukee Road (“Preferred 45” lettering); and Southern Pacific (Golden Pig Service logo). Three trailer numbers per scheme. $34.99 (Primed for Grime, $39.99). March 2022. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Ford F-850 stakebed truck. Canadian National (green with maple leaf herald), Baltimore & Ohio (yellow with capitol dome herald), Chicago & North Western (yellow with ball-and-bar herald), Conrail (blue with “can opener” herald), Denver & Rio Grande Western (silver with speed lettering), Milwaukee Road (black with “The Milwaukee Road” herald), and Union Pacific (yellow with shield herald). One truck number per scheme. Cab interior with separate steering wheel, clear window glazing, and vinyl tires. $34.99. March 2022. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
40-foot standard-height intermodal container. Cosco Shipping (blue), Beacon (brown), China Shipping (teal), Ocean Network Express (Cherry Blossom Magenta), and United Arab Shipping Co. (green). Two three-packs per scheme; also available undecorated in two versions. Injection-molded plastic with separate, factory-applied door rods and handles; optional separate vents; and beveled all-corrugated sides. Three-pack, $47.95 (undecorated, $39.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
Assorted Nathan air horns. M3, M3H, M3R2, M3HR1, M3HR2, M3HR4, M5H, M5R2, M5R4, and M5R24. Brass castings. $4.50 each. Cal Scale line. Bowser Manufacturing Co. Inc., 800-327-5126, bowser-trains.com
Coal load for Pennsylvania RR class GLa hopper. Cast resin. Can be adapted to fit other two-bay hoppers. Two-pack, $12.95. Late 2021 delivery. Rapido Trains, 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
N scale maintenance of way
Russell snow plow. New paint schemes: Canadian Pacific (black and red); Delaware-Lackawanna (white, gray, and maroon); Green Mountain (green and yellow); Milwaukee Road (black and red); Ontario Northland (blue and yellow); Pan Am (black and blue); Pennsylvania RR (yellow and black); New York, Susquehanna & Western (yellow and black); and Union Pacific (brown and white). One number per scheme. Upgraded details, including cupola-mounted grab irons, brake wheel, roof-mounted horn (where appropriate), and builder’s plate detail; window glazing; and weighted, detailed underframe. $39.95. Fourth quarter 2021. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
N scale details and accessories
40-foot standard-height intermodal container. China Shipping (teal), Beacon (brown), Cosco Shipping (blue), Ocean Network Express (Cherry Blossom Magenta), and United Arab Shipping Co. (green). Two three-packs per scheme; also available undecorated in two versions. Injection-molded plastic with beveled all-corrugated sides. Three-pack, $39.95 (undecorated, $26.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
O scale freight cars
70-ton three-bay hopper. New paint schemes. Southern Ry. (brown and white); Baltimore & Ohio (Chesapeake & Ohio patchout); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black, white, and red); Cambria & Indiana (black and white); Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (black and white); and Seaboard Coast Line (black and white). Two road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. Flat or arched ends as appropriate; sprung, die-cast metal trucks; and separate, factory-applied coal load, brake wheel, and brakewheel platform. $77.95 (undecorated, $72.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Trainman line. Atlas O, 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
American Car & Foundry 17,360-gallon insulated tank car. New paint schemes: Pennwalt Chemicals (black, white, and blue), Kaiser Chemicals (green, white, and black), American Railcar Leasing (Oxy Chemicals, black and white), General American (white and black), Occidental Chemical Corp. (gray and white with HOKX reporting marks), and PPG Industries (black and yellow). New road numbers: Hooker Chemicals (orange, white, and black). Two road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. Metal safety bars, tank fittings, and safety placards; die-cast metal stirrup steps; and 100-ton roller-bearing trucks with rotating bearing caps. $99.95 (undecorated, $89.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Master Line. Atlas O, 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
O scale structures
Bellevue service station. 1:43.5 scale. Laser-cut cardboard kit. Includes pumps and choice of fuel brand (Agip, Antar, Avia, Azur, BP, Elan, Elf, Esso, Fina, Ozo, Shell, and Total. Other brands available upon request). Vehicle shown not included. Measures 10.62” x 7.87” x 9.84”. $114.37. Price may vary based on exchange rate. Minifer, minifer.fr/en
Z scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7B diesel locomotives. Western Pacific (A unit and A-B set in silver-and-orange scheme [one road number each]; A unit in green-and-orange scheme [two numbers]). Directional light-emitting-diode lighting in A units, 7mm motor, blackened metal wheels, optional replacement truck with truck-mounted coupler, and drawbar (A units only). American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Decals
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac diesel-era wide- and center-cupola steel caboose decals. HO scale. Features road name, three RF&P heralds, road numbers, consolidated lube plates, wheel inspection dots, Kartrak Automatic Car Identification labels, and weight data specific to the cars. Also includes the first all-steel center-cupola lettering for cabooses delivered from Southern Iron & Equipment Co. in 1971 as repainted in 1986. Set can letter at least two cabooses and is appropriate for wood caboose repaints. $4.77 postpaid. Virginia residents add sales tax. PayPal accepted. Bill Mosteller, Great Decals, 3306 Parkside Terrace, Fairfax, VA 22031; greatdecals.com
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 50- and 60-foot outside-braced boxcars. Covers modern and repainted single- and double-door cars. Set includes road name, RF&P spelled out in modern font and billboard letter herald, road numbers, “Cushion Service” and “Cushioned Load” lettering, dimensional and capacity data, consolidated lube plates, wheel inspection dots, and Kartrak Automatic Car Identification labels. $4.77 postpaid. Virginia residents add sales tax. PayPal accepted. Bill Mosteller, Great Decals, 3306 Parkside Terrace, Fairfax, VA 22031; greatdecals.com
Electronics/controls
HO scale trackside turnout decoder. Upgrade electrically operated turnouts to Digital Command Control. Features decoder installed inside trackside structure. Plug-and-play use for Bachmann’s E-Z Track system (compatible with steel alloy and nickel silver turnouts). Can also be soldered to control circuit board. Adaptable to other popular track systems. $45. Bachmann Trains, 215-533-1600, bachmanntrains.com
