News & Products for the week of March 16th 2026
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 March 16th 2026.
HO scale locomotives
Rapido General Electric U34CH diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $249.95 to $259.95; with DCC and sound, $359.95 to $369.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
General Electric U34CH features include:
- Rotating bearing caps, where appropriate
- Heavy die-cast metal frame with separate details
- Long hood without dynamic brakes
- Interior details, including illuminated control stand lights
- Metal grab irons and brake chain
- Prototype-specific tread patterns on walkways
- Metal handrails with plastic stanchions
- Etched-metal steps with fold-over step edge designs
- Rubber sanding lines
- Road-specific fuel tanks
Release date: To be announced
Road names: NJ Transit (Platinum Mist and Bluebird schemes), Conrail (American Revolution Bicentennial scheme), and NJ DOT (Bluebird scheme). One to two road numbers per scheme.
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter line Wabtec C44ACM diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $229.99; with DCC and sound, $339.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Wabtec C44ACM features include:
- Factory-applied wire grab irons, spare knuckles, train line hoses with silver glad hands, three-hose m.u. clusters with silver glad hands, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, mirrors, and sunshades
- See-through, etched metal radiator intake and exhaust grills
- 5,000-gallon fuel tank with vertical close spaced weld seams
- Dual fuel fills per side
- Round and vertical analog fuel gauges
- All-wheel drive and electrical pickup
Release date: October 2026
Road names: Union Pacific (Building America with winged nose herald and new small flag scheme with shield nose herald).
WalthersMainline Electro-Motive Division SW7 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $194.98; with ESU Sound & DCC, $264.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Electro-Motive Division SW7 features include:
- Phase II body as appropriate with straight front cab windows and wire grill radiator cover
- Dual tall conical exhaust stacks
- Large front radiator grill
- Six louvered side doors with letterboard gap
- Factory-installed grab irons on hood and cab
- Also available undecorated, in Phase II body configuration
Release date: Winter 2027
Road names: Central RR of New Jersey; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Erie RR; Illinois Central Gulf; Louisville & Nashville; and Maine Central.
HO scale passenger equipment
Bachmann Amfleet I passenger cars
Price: $119
Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com
Amfleet I passenger car features include:
- Coach, business, and cafe car
- Separately applied, articulated plastic diaphragms
- Transparent tinted windows
- Freestanding truck suspension details
- Detailed interiors with seating and tables per car type
- Metal handrails and grab irons
- Detailed underbody
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Amtrak (phase 7 scheme).
HO scale rolling stock
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter line Trinity RD-6 coal hopper
Price: $49.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Trinity RD-6 coal hopper features include:
- See-through, photo-etched metal crossover platforms
- Handbrake housing with wheel and chain detail
- Injection-molded plastic end cages
- Detailed outlet doors and actuator arms
- Die-cast metal slope sheets and body floor
- Factory-applied metal grab irons, uncoupling levers, and train line hoses with silver glad hands
Release date: November 2026
Road names: BNSF Ry., Georgia Power, Norfolk Southern, Scherer Electric, South Carolina Public Service Authority, and Trinity Leasing.
TrainWorld Norfolk Southern boxcars
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: TrainWorld, 725 McDonald Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11218; 800-541-7010; trainworld.com
Norfolk Southern boxcars features include:
- Produced by Lionel, available exclusively from TrainWorld
Release date: Fourth quarter 2026
Road names: Norfolk Southern (1230 [Birmingham] and 1233 [Atlanta]).
N scale locomotives
ScaleTrains Rivet Counter line Electro-Motive Division GP30 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $154.99; with DCC and sound, $264.99
Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE, Cleveland, TN 37312; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com
Electro-Motive Division GP30 features include:
- Body-mounted knuckle couplers
- Prototype-specific details
- Light-emitting-diode lighting
- Curved radiator fan grab iron
- Factory-applied wire grab irons, windshield wipers, train line hoses with silver glad hands, and air tanks
- All-wheel drive and electrical pickup
Release date: July 2026
Road names: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Conrail; CSX; and Norfolk & Western (high short hood).
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.
Share this article
