News & Products for the week of April 29th 2024
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 29th 2024.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Genesis General Electric C44-9W
Price: Direct-current model, $220.99; with DCC and sound, $305.99; add $5.25 for Primed for Grime.
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
General Electric Dash 9-44CW features:
- PTC antennas
- Road number specific details
Release date: August 2025
Road names: Arizona & California
ScaleTrains Norfolk & Western Class J steam locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $424.99; with DDC and sound, $524.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Norfolk & Western Class J steam locomotive features:
- Die-cast locomotive and tender body
- Handrails, handrail posts, and class lights are nickel-plated
- Sliding cab roof vents
Release date: December 2024
Road names: Norfolk & Western
HO scale passenger cars
Rapido Super Continental Line duplex sleeper cars
Price: $119.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Super Continental Line duplex sleeper cars features:
- Duplex sleeper cars feature new Trane air conditioner details
- Track-powered light-emitting diode interior illumination
- Detailed underbody
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Amtrak, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Great Northern, Milwaukee Road, and VIA Rail Canada.
WalthersProto Budd 85-foot great dome lounge
Price: $109.98; with interior illumination, $124.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Budd 85-foot great dome lounge features:
- Factory-installed grab irons
- Detailed interior
- Prototype-accurate window tinting and gasket details
Release date: Winter 2025
Road names: Amtrak
N scale locomotives
Kato Electro-Motive Division FP7 diesel locomotives
Price: Single direct-current FP7A, $120.00; single FP7A with DCC, $220.00; single FP7A with DCC and sound,$320; direct-current FP7A and B two-pack, $240.00; FP7A and B with DCC, $440; FP7A and B with DCC and sound, $640
Manufacturer: Kato USA Inc., 100 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173; katousa.com
Electro-Motive Division FP7 diesel locomotives features:
- Available as FP7A & F7B locomotive sets or individual FP7A locomotives
- Milwaukee Road winterization hatch details
Release date: Fall 2024
Road names: Milwaukee Road
Z scale freight cars
American Z Line Ortner hoppers
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Ortner hoppers features:
- Available in two- and four-packs
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Conrail
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 email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cgrivno@kalmbach.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bsleppy@kalmbach.com for more information.
