All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm
November 9, 2014
WEST ALLIS, WI — More than 70 manufacturers gave a special preview of their product offerings at the 43rd annual Trainfest model railroad show that wraps up today at the Wisconsin Expo Center near Milwaukee.
Craig Walker of Athearn Trains visits with a consumer at Saturday’s Trainfest in Milwaukee. Athearn was among more than five dozen manufacturers who unveiled new products, made announcements and displayed the latest in model railroading. – Tim Blackwell/Cowcatcher Magazine
Trainfest officials anticipated some 25,000 in attendance over the weekend. About 10,000 paid adults packed the hall at Milwaukee State Fair Park on Saturday. Manufacturers offered looks at new products and touted upcoming arrivals and future announcements.
Athearn announced upcoming production of Amtrak P42 locomotives in N and HO scales in the “Bolted On Nose” variation. The variation is Amtrak’s retrofit of the original P42 which, because of its “monocoque” body design, was costly to replace the nose in the event of a grade collision.
Athearn also had samples from the first run of its popular HO Tank Train and touted the upcoming release of a second run.
“It was so popular that we’re rerunning them,” said Victor Audo, Athearn’s director of proprietary products. “When we received the first order they went fast.”
Athearn also had deco samples of new N scale FGE reefers with sound. The reefers, due in June or July, will be produced in open-end and closed-end versions. They will be available in FGE “Solid Cold”, Burlington Northern, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific as well.
Tangent Scale Models unveiled its HO General American 8,000-gallon Acid Tank Car tank car in three road names plus an undecorated version. GA manufactured at least three different versions of the all-welded tank cars after World War II. Tangent’s model is a replica of the prototypes produced between 1949-60. The cars which typicall hauled strong chemical compounds − such as hydrochloric (muriatic), hydrofluoric, phosphoric, and sulfuric acids − lasted well into the 1980s in revenue service.
Road names include Stauffer, GATX (black and white versions), and DOW Chemical.
A close look inside InterMountain Railway Co.’s booth revealed that the company is planning a run of Fort Worth & Western SD40-2 locomotives in N and HO scales. Vice President Doug Dolloff said the company plans to make a formal announcement later this week or next.
With its bright blue and yellow paint and longhorn logo, FWWR locomotives have become some of the most recognized and colorful short line diesels in the country. Twenty six of the 29 locomotives in the railroad’s fleet is named after a prominent western figure or historical event.
InterMountain will reproduce the “Sundance Kid”, “Butch Cassidy” and “Tarantula” schemes and anticipates brisk sales after product arrives in June or July.
“We feel like this product will do very well,” Dolloff said.
The run will be part of production of 10 SD40-2s. Other roads include Missouri Pacific, Illinois Central, Burlington Northern, Norfolk Southern, Wheeling & Lake Erie and Nationales de Mexico. The run will include two “Famous Image Collector Series” roads – Allegheny Midland and Virginian and Ohio.
In recent years, Athearn has done a FWWR locomotive run.
Elsewhere on the show floor, Kato U.S.A. had a sample of its new N scale Union Pacific FEF-3 No. 844 steam locomotive that is shipping in November and December. The model of the famous UP touring locomotive is shipping along with the new seven-car Union Pacific Excursion Train that includes newly tooled business and power cars. Two water tender cars are also available with the set.
Atlas had an unpainted production sample of its new HO scale PMC 5347 box car. The car is the big sister of the company’s FMC 5077, said Atlas’ Cory Rothlisberger. Prototypes of the double-door cars move forestry products and lumber. Roads have yet to be announced, and the product should ship in late 2015.
Soundtraxx offered demonstrations of its new Sound Car system. The 16-bit decoder provides sound and lighting effects for all types of rolling stock in all scales from specific recordings, such as wheel noises and coupling and uncoupling effects, the company says.
Soundtraxx representative George Bogatiuk said the booth was busy throughout the weekend with curious observers.
“It’s been doing very well,” he said. “We’ve tried to put as many rolling stock sounds in the product as we could.”
Fox Valley Models had deco samples of its N scale B&O wagon top caboose and Pennsylvania H30 hopper. Also on hand were deco samples of the HO and N Milwaukee Road transfer cabooses.
Broadway Limited had a sample of its N C
Micro-Trains had a sample of its N scale heavyweight baggage car, another variation in the company’s line of heavyweight passenger cars. The cars are due in spring.
Representatives from Lionel, DeLuxe Innovations, Bachmann, Walthers and M.T.H. Trains were also on hand with products. The show also featured more than 70 model railroad layouts.
