National Steel Car gondola from Athearn

Illustration showing high-side gondola

Athearn Trains announced that it will be releasing a National Steel Car 6,400-cubic-foot capacity gondola in its Genesis series. The newly tooled model, which will be offered in N and HO scales, will have a detailed underbody, removable debris covers on later variants, and Barber S2E 100-ton trucks with rotating roller-bearing caps. Road names and […]

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Athearn 40-foot ballast hopper

Drawing of a green ballast hopper

40-foot ballast hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $42.99; four-pack, $149.99 Era: 1960s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com  40-foot ballast hopper features: Removable load Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons and brake wheel Injection-molded plastic body Body-mounted McHenry scale couplers Solid nickel silver wheels with RP-25 […]

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Athearn Genesis Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC diesel locomotive

Drawing of large yellow diesel locomotive

Athearn Genesis HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $259.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $359.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime models. Era: 1996+ to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Electro-Motive Division SD90MAC diesel locomotive features: […]

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Parts of the Electro-Motive Diesel SD70M-2

white, red, and blue diesel locomotive

Parts of the Electro-Motive Diesel SD70M-2. Today is a great time to be a model railroader. The market is filled with a variety of locomotives from different manufacturers in many popular modeling scales. These engines often feature railroad- (and sometimes road-number-) specific details; factory-installed and painted wire grab irons; and sounds recorded from the prototype. […]

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Athearn Genesis Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACU diesel locomotive

Drawing of diesel locomotive decorated in marron and gray scheme

Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACU diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $259.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $359.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime. Era: 2016 to present Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com SD70ACU diesel locomotive features: Body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers Celcon handrails Detailed cab interior Die-cast metal […]

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20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader

Photo of HO scale A-B set of cab units on scenicked base

20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader As we celebrate Amtrak week at Trains.com, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at 20 Amtrak locomotives featured in Model Railroader magazine over the past two decades. As I was compiling this list, I was surprised just how many Amtrak models were produced […]

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HO scale 40-foot stockcar from Athearn

Boxcar red stockcar

40-foot stockcar Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Single car, $34.99; four-pack, $121.99 Era: 1940s+ to 1970s (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Separate, factory-applied brake wheel Underbody brake system details Machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours Body mounted McHenry scale couplers Minimum radius: 18”  Release […]

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HO scale 40-foot smooth-side intermodal container from Athearn

White intermodal container

40-foot smooth-side intermodal container Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Three-pack, $41.99 Era: 1970s to 1990s Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Injection-molded plastic Stackable Release date: September 2023 Paint schemes: American Mail Line (off-white), American Presidential Line (gray with red logo), “K” Line (gray with red logo), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines […]

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HO scale Overland passenger cars from Athearn

Old-time yellow passenger train car

Overland passenger cars Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Coach, $42.99; four-pack (Busines car, coach, combine, and Railway Post Office), $149.98 Era: 1890s+ Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: End handrails and ladders Clear (sides) and green-tinted (clerestory) windows RP-25 contour machined metal wheels Body mounted McHenry scale couplers Minimum radius: […]

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North American Car Corp. 50-foot boxcar from Athearn

Blue boxcar with Hamm's logo on side

North American Car Corp. 50-foot boxcar Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $37.99 Era: Mid-1960s through 1970s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Metal grab irons and etched-metal crossover platforms Pullman-Standard or Superior plug doors Pullman-Standard or Stanray (Superior) roof as appropriate 70-ton trucks 33” machined […]

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Athearn N scale intercity bus

Yellow and silver 1940s intercity bus

N scale intercity bus Scale: N (1:160) Price: $29.99 Era: 1940s to 1970s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Rubber tires Windshield wipers Interior detail Available: September 2023 Paint schemes: Utah Parks (yellow, gray, and red), band on tour (green and white in two schemes […]

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FMC 5077 centered double-door boxcar from Athearn

Yellow boxcar

FMC 5077 centered double-door boxcar Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: $39.99 Era: Late 1970s+ to 1990s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com Features: Separate, factory-applied grab irons, end ladders, and brake wheel Photo-etched metal crossover platform 33” machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours Body mounted McHenry […]

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