All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm
Following are selected product releases published in 2025 Cowcatcher editions.
M.T.H. Trains announced an exclusive run of Premier O-Scale R50B Express Reefers in a unique Long Island livery available only at Trainworld in Brooklyn.
The cars will come in two road numbers beginning in March. Early order price is $84.99 from Trainworld.
The models feature a detailed, durable ABS body with metal wheels and axles, and die-cast four-wheel trucks. Details include brake wheels, separate metal handrails and opening car doors.
The cars operate on O31 curves.
The R50B Express Reefer, developed in the 1940s by the Railway Express Agency, was a revolution in refrigerated transport.
Micro-Trains Line released in April its new N-scale 40-foot Double-Sheathed Wood Reefer and 40-foot Steel Ice Reefer.
The wood reefer is lettered for Jacob E. Decker & Sons of Mason City, IA. It was built in October 1928 and repainted in East Chicago in July 1931. The car has billboard “Decker” printed on the roof.
The Merchants Despatch Transportation Co. steel ice reefer, built in 1956 by Pacific Car & Foundry, was lettered for Illinois Central service. Illinois Central Gulf was formed after the merger of Gulf, Mobile & Ohio and the Illinois Central in 1972. Canadian National purchased the railroad in 1998.
The wood reefer sells for $29.95, the steel reefer for $28.95.
LGB announced in May that its new Alpine Classic Pullman Express is expected to pull into the station this summer.
The locomotive and three-car set is modeled after the Rhaetian Railway luxury train that winds through Switzerland’s Alpine region. The sets consists of Class Ge 4/4 II locomotive No. 626, two coaches and a baggage car.
The Class Ge 4/4 II locomotives with their 2,300 horsepower and top speed of 90 km/h/56 mph can be found pulling various trains on the Rhaetian Railroad network. As early as 1973, the RhB received the first locomotive of this class – at that time still in dark green and with round headlights.
Updated and converted several times, the locomotives were equipped with rectangular headlights, and almost all of these units are still in use. They can be seen on commuter trains and others, including the Glacier Express.
The so-called Pullman Locomotive, the Class Ge 4/4 II, received new paint to match the Alpine Classic Pullman Express cobalt blue and ivory scheme on salon cars last year. It was dedicated in September 2024, according to online sources.
With its four wheel sets and all-wheel drive, LGB’s model will come with an mfx/DCC decoder with light and sound functions. The pantographs will be powered by servo motors and controlled digitally.
The two-car Pullman Express Car Set, Era V, is a reproduction of the two Alpine Class Pullman Express salon cars, Nos. 1143 and 1144. The cars are prototypically lettered and painted, have complete interior details and interior lighting, and the doors can be opened. These cars also have metal wheelsets.
RhB owns four of the historic salon cars.
The baggage car is prototypically painted and lettered, and the doors can be opened. The car has metal wheelsets.
The locomotive and cars, when coupled, are nearly 66 inches long. The Class Ge 4/4 II locomotive lists at $1,300. MSRP for the two-car set is $950; the baggage car lists for $255
