News & Products for the week of April 21st 2025
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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 21st, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Genesis Electro-Motive Division GP50 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $249.99; with DCC and sound, $349.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division GP50 features:
- Full cab interior and see-through cab windows
- Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, and breather pipes
- Details include uncoupling levers; wire grab irons; see-through, etched-metal steps; and flexible rubber m.u. hoses
Release date: November 2026
Road names: Burlington Northern; Chesapeake & Ohio; Toledo, Peoria & Western; Southern Ry.; and St. Louis-San Francisco.
HO scale rolling stock
Athearn Genesis Trinity 5161 covered hopper
Price: Single car, $64.99; three-pack, $149.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Trinity 5161 covered hopper features:
- Separate brake cylinder, valve, and air reservoir with wire brake plumbing
- Separately applied end cages and etched-metal crossover platforms
- Etched-metal running boards
Release date: November 2026
Road names: Crab Orchard & Egyptian Ry., Kansas City Southern, Missouri Pacific, Potash Corp., Southern Pacific Santa Fe, and Union Pacific.
WalthersMainline American Car & Foundry 50-foot plate B boxcar
Price: $34.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
American Car & Foundry 50-foot plate B boxcar features:
- Stanray diagonal-panel roof
- Dreadnaught ends
- Proto-Max metal couplers
Release date: Summer 2025
Road names: Burlington Northern, Canadian Pacific, Chicago & North Western, Conrail, Grand Trunk Western, and Norfolk Southern.
Z scale locomotives
American Z Line Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe diesel locomotive
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe features:
- Blackened metal wheels
- Traction tires
- Available in six road numbers
Release date: To be announced
Road names: BNSF Ry.
News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more. Model railroad product news may include HO, N, O, S, and Z scales. Product release dates and prices will vary according to each manufacturer. If you are a manufacturer and have new product releases, please e-mail Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bryson.sleppy@firecrown.com for more information.
