News & Products for the week of November 17th 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 November 17th, 2025.
HO scale commuter equipment
Rapido BART legacy fleet cars
Price: Individual B car (unpowered), $89.95; A car (unpowered) with display case, $149.95; Direct-current A and C cars, $229.95 each; A and C cars with DCC and sound, $339.95 each; Direct-current A-B-B-A and C-B-B-C sets (powered A and C cars, unpowered B cars), $549.95 each; A-B-B-A and C-B-B-C sets (powered A and C cars, unpowered B cars) with DCC and sound, $749.95 each
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
BART legacy fleet cars features:
- NEM-style close-coupling system
- Track-powered, flicker-free interior lighting
- Directional headlights and red tail lights
- Low-profile drive system in A and C cars
- Multi-color interior detailing
- Underbody details include separate electrical lines, conduit, and equipment boxes
Release date: 2026
Road names: Bay Area Rapid Transit (including American Revolution Bicentennial scheme)
HO scale structures
WalthersCornerstone modern diesel shop
Price: $74.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Modern diesel shop features:
- Contemporary three-bay design
- Rooftop details include HVAC units, vents, and stack
- Interior can accommodate locomotives, shop equipment, or lighting upgrades
- Includes decal sheet with warning stripes and interior floor safety markings
- Measures 10-1/2″ x 15-1/2″ x 5-9/16″
Release date: Spring 2026
N scale locomotives
Kato Motive Power Inc. MP36PH diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $140; with DCC, $240
Manufacturer: Kato USA Inc., 100 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173; 847-781-9500; katousa.com
Motive Power Inc. MP36PH features:
- Five-pole motor
- Directional headlight and taillight functions across all six nose lights
- Factory-printed number boards
- Drop-in DCC compatible with the Train Control Systems K4D6
- Kato magnetic knuckle couplers
Release date: Available now
Road names: Metra (black roof).
N scale passenger equipment
Kato Metra bi-level three-car set
Price: Direct-current three-car set, $130; pre-lit three car set, $175
Manufacturer: Kato USA Inc., 100 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173; 847-781-9500; katousa.com
Metra bi-level three-car set features:
- Set includes two Nippon Sharyo gallery bi-level coaches and one Nippon Sharyo gallery bi-level cab-coach
- Injection-molded plastic construction
- Tinted window glazing
- Detailed interiors
- Molded and factory-applied details
Release date: Available now
Road names: Metra
O scale rolling stock
Atlas Premier O coalporter
Price: Single car, $97.95; four-car pack, $391.80
Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-687-0880; shop.atlasrr.com
Coalporter features:
- ABS body
- Metal wheelsets
- Die-cast metal trucks
- Operating metal couplers
- 1:48 dimensions
Release date: Third quarter 2026
Road names: BNSF Ry.; Conrail; First Security Bank National; Norfolk Southern; Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern; and Union Pacific.
Z scale locomotives
American Z Line Electro-Motive Division FP7 diesel locomotive
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Electro-Motive Division FP7 features:
- AZL 7mm motor
- Dual flywheels
- Prototype-specific details
- Metal stirrups
- Directional light-emitting-diode lighting
- Blackened metal wheels
- AutoLatch couplers
- Optional front truck with coupler
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Pennsylvania RR
American Z Line Electro-Motive Division SD60M diesel locomotive
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 7805 Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH 43017; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Electro-Motive Division SD60M features:
- Directional light-emitting-diode lighting
- Blackened metal wheels
- Traction tires
- AutoLatch couplers
- Prototype-specific details
- Optional truck with coupler
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.
