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Following are selected product releases published in 2024 Cowcatcher editions.
Athearn Trains released new HO GE 9-40CW, Dash 9-44CW and GP7 diesel locomotives in late November.
The 9-40CW features illuminated ground lights, front and rear walkway lights and number boards plus etched, see-through walkway steps. The DCC-equipped models come with dual cube speakers.
Roads in the Dash 9-44CW model include popular Class Is Union Pacific, BNSF Heritage I, BNSF “Wedge” and Canadian National in road-specific details. Short lines Arizona & California and North Shore & Labrador are also available.
The Dash 9-40CW Norfolk Southern with similar equipment was also released.
DC models list for $220.99; DCC/Sound is $305.99.
The GP7 features new roof access hatches on non-dynamic units, per the prototype. Other features include Blomberg B trucks with appropriate bearing caps.
Roads include Chicago & North Western, Amtrak, Burlington Northern, Precision National and Erie Lackawanna. An undecorated version is available as well.
DC models are listed at $186.99, DCC/Sound at $271.99.
Rapido Trains released its HO-scale NSC 73-foot centerbeam car in multiple roads.
One of the most overlooked, and yet common loads carried by North American railroads is finished wood products. Over 20,000 examples of this car were produced by National Steel Car, between 1987 through the mid 2000s, with some car variations along the way.
Centerbeams are unique in that they are owned by large class I railroads, leasing companies and smaller short lines.
Rapido’s model is loaded with details and options, including multiple side sill variations with different winch and ratchet configurations, multiple top truss configurations (early Z pattern and standard closed pattern with and without tie-down brackets), two deck configurations (early with risers and mid without risers) and two underbody configurations.
The car also comes in multiple end cage variants, multiple brake stand options and multiple trucks.
ScaleTrains announced new Rivet Counter HO Scale EMD SD45 road names and paint schemes, including Rio Grande and Burlington Northern, at the Rocky Mountain Train Show in April.
The company’s HO run features operating LED-illuminated ground lights (per the prototype), plus front, rear and side walkway lights when using an ESU decoder in DCC mode.
Other LED-illuminated lighting includes class lights, number boards, directional headlights and Gyra/Mars Lights (per the prototype).
The models are equipped with the ESU-designed PowerPack with two supercapacitors to keep the locomotive running over dirty track or troublesome switches.
Additional roads include Chicago & North Western, Clinchfield, Norfolk & Western, Santa Fe and Seaboard System.
The first order of InterMountain Railway Co.’s latest N-scale bi-level auto racks produced in cooperation with Fox Valley Models arrived in June.
CSX/TTGX, Canadian National, Ferromex/TTGX, Southern Pacific/TTGX, Canadian Pacific, BNSF (black and white herald), Conrail/TTGX and TINX/TTGX models are in stock. Cars are available in four road numbers.
The style of 89-foot bi-level released was built in the 1970s and holds up to 10 large vehicles. The auto haulers are still on the road today.
M.S.R.P. is $69.95 each.
InterMountain plans to produce about 15 other variations and roads.
Kato USA expected the first half of another run of its venerable N-scale SD40-2 locomotives to arrive in August. The balance should be coming in September.
The road names include early versions of Burlington Northern, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and Milwaukee Road in DC ($125), DCC ($225) and DCC/Sound ($325). Each is in two road numbers.
Models have body-mounted Kato magnetic knuckle couplers, directional golden white LED headlights and low-flange wheels.
DC models can accept a Train Control Systems K1D4 decoder.
Kato has produced the SD40-2s for about 25 years.
