Model Railway News

Today we have added the latest 2025 EUROTRAIN Locomotives, Coach & rolling stock from Marklin/Trix.  These are special models that the factories produce for the IDEE & SPIEL Company as EUROTRAIN Exclusive editions. These typically sell out quickly and do take time to come in. 

• Of note are the BR120.1 WRS Locomotives. These will also come with digitally controlled pantographs along with numerous other functions. In Marklin stock # 37520 and in Trix, stock # 22743. 
• Marklin is making their popular low-floor 8 axle flat car in a green livery with a Concrete Mixer for a load, stock # 47402.
• Finally, the extremely popular BP Heavy-Oil Tank Car are once again announced in a different color theme and BP Logo, stock # 47919.

Check out these interesting models and Pre-Order yours early as they will not last once released.

The Shay Locomotive

As with LGB's New Items presentation, today we are presenting the Shay locomotive for H0, this time in standard gauge. The extraordinary technology with the external drive including fully movable gear adjustment makes this locomotive an attraction on every model railway layout.
We are delighted to be able to offer this myth among steam engines with its massive appearance in full equipment including smoke generator, sound functions and buffer storage.

You can still experience the Shay steam locomotive myth in the mountains of West Virginia today.

Even though our great model retired after 1945, its successor is still pounding the tracks in tourist traffic today

No doubt, a very fitting Surprise to see this being announced in HO scale following the LGB New Item announcements of 3 very impressive Shay Locomotives in G Scale, LGB-26701;26702 and 26703. Now, the HO Shay version as Marklin stock # 38700 and in Trix, the stock # 25700. In addition, both models will see complementing 3-piece flat car sets; in Marklin stock # 45600 and in Trix, stock # 24922. These car sets are also completely new tooling as well and come with different road #’s. You can complement the Marklin version by extending it with the Trix 24922 and visa versa, the Trix version with the Marklin 45600. Of course, complementary wheel exchanges will be made.

As with all Surprise Locomotive announcements, they are very limited and quickly sell out. Do not miss your opportunity to possess one of these very impressive steam locomotives! A show piece on anyone's layout or display. Pre-Order now!

Happy Birthday!

He has been the mouse's very best friend for 50 years: the little blue elephant who tumbles from one funny adventure to the next in the "Sendung mit der Maus" (The Show with the Mouse). Everyone who was a child in the last half century should know the little TV star. To mark his anniversary, the WDR broadcaster has now given him his own locomotive: the 110 469 4, which provides replacement services for the "Train Rental" TRI, is now travelling around the country in an elephant design. The locomotive was presented in Cologne: the elephant greets from the two front sides from a "50" while the mouse dances with joy. The anniversary logo also plays a key role on the (differently designed) sides of the locomotive.
With its eye-catching print, the elephant locomotive will probably become one of the most popular photo motifs on Germany's rails. Mouse fans have a good chance of seeing it, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. According to TRI, this is where the electric locomotive will be used most. If you look closely, you can still see the original color of the 60-year-old machine. The 110 has blue "glasses" around the driver's windshield that go perfectly with the blue elephant.

We are pleased to be able to offer you the new Elephant Express in H0, Z gauge and Minitrix exclusively. The Marklin HO version is stock # 39111 and the Z scale version is stock # 88417. Trix HO version is stock # 22611 and the MiniTrix N scale version is stock # 16260. These are a one-time issue so please Reserve your now.

UPDATE: March 2025 - Brawa has sent us an updated Fall factory clearance list. This is their largest clearance of discontinued items yet with fantastic savings. See the link below for all the sale items.

Brawa is clearing out factory discontinued and end-of-production items at discounts up to 35% off. This is a fantastic chance to add an exquisitly detailed Brawa model to your collection or layout at a great price.

We have posted sale prices dozens of Brawa DC and AC locomotives and rolling stock in both HO and N scale. These are great prices and only a few of each product are available from the factory so order now to make sure you get the items you are after! 

Please note: Most products in this special sale are not in stock at our store and need to be ordered from the factory. Due to the nature of the sale we cannot guarantee items are still in stock at the factory - please order ASAP for the best selection. We will do our best to remove sold out items as we are notified by Brawa. All factory clearance item sales are final and of course, locomotives will have their 2 year warranty.

Review by Clem Harris/photos by Tony Cook

Kato recently released a group of C44-9W diesel locomotive models in N scale. This collection includes several BNSF Railway looks. I’m sharing an orange BNSF painted C44 that includes patching for second owner Kansas City Southern (KCS). I also review a SuperFleet livery decoration with patching for BNSF ownership.

Prototype Profile
BNSF 667 was originally built as Santa Fe 667 in August 1994, as part of a 100-unit C44-9 order. These six-axle locomotives, delivered in iconic SuperFleet livery, invoked memories of a rich history of passenger trains racing across the American Southwest. The SuperFleet paint scheme was introduced in 1989 by Mike Haverty, Santa Fe’s president. In an August 1989 Chicago Tribune article, Haverty stated, “I think that restoring the Warbonnet is a way to demonstrate to our customers and the industry that we deliver quality transportation. At the same time, the Warbonnet will give our employees a sense of pride in their heritage. We’re in some tough times now. Competition is tough. There is an overcapacity of all transportation. So only the fittest will survive; those that are innovators and aggressive. And we will.”

As Santa Fe purchased locomotives after 1989, they were delivered in this new version of the famous red and silver, which many associate with the last few years of the Santa Fe and their priority intermodal service with J.B. Hunt. Santa Fe merged with Burlington Northern to become the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway in 1995. Santa Fe’s and BN’s combined purchases of General Electric’s (GE) C44-9W model totalled around 1,700 units between 1994 and 2005.

Based on pictorial evidence, sometime around 2005, Santa Fe 667 became BNSF 667 with the addition of lettering under the road number on the cab showing BNSF ownership, as KATO has reproduced for this release.

Kansas City Southern and its Mexican subsidiaries purchased 125 AC4400CW units, which are the AC traction motor cousin of GE’s C44-9W. KCS chose not to purchase the DC traction motor C44-9W, though the railroad would eventually roster this model.

KCS 4401 was built as BNSF 4799 in June 1998. BNSF 4799 received Heritage III orange and black livery. BNSF 4799 was on a long-term lease via General Electric Capital. When this example and others on lease were returned to General Electric Capital in 2021, several railroads picked up these used C44-9Ws, including Kansas City Southern. These new-to-KCS locomotives were quickly patched out to no longer show BNSF, though they retained that road’s colors. They received block KCS letters on their long hoods and the road’s logo on the sides of the nose and across where the BNSF “cigar band” herald had appeared on the nose. In addition to Kansas City Southern, many of the other leased C44-9W originally painted BNSF were changed to Norfolk Southern.

The Models
Out of the box, I was pleased with Kato’s efforts on both samples. The paint, lettering, and graphics were well rendered, and spot-on in relation to placement on the prototype. Both N-scale locomotive models had the proper version of General Electric’s high-adhesion truck sideframes, matching pictures found during my research.

You’ll notice variations in the handrail style with BNSF 667 possessing the early style, wider hand rail arrangement across the front and back of the locomotive over the pilots. KCS 4401 has the narrow arrangement with the handrails coming inward as the raise up to the outer stanchions over the pilots in front and rear.

A couple of enhancements worth noting that I was happy to see up-dated on these Kato models was the improved appearance of the fuel tank and ditch lights. Check out the depth and detail on the area between the top of the tank and sill on BNSF 667 above. The ditch lights on the pilot are a better representation versus prior toolings.

These models also feature what I consider to be a nearly indestructible mechanism. I love the design simplic-ity and durability of Kato’s drive. This 1:160 C44-9W locomotive model includes a DCC friendly electronics setup. Options for a drop-in DCC de-coder include Digitrax DN163K1A, ESU 59721 Lok Pilot Train, and Control Systems K1D4 decoders are available if you want digital control and non-sound operation. For sound and DCC capability, ESU’s 58741 decoder is available, and SoundTraxx offers two decoders with sound options for these Kato locomotives.

I chose a break-in for these C44-9Ws, which is the same practice I follow for DCC installs for speed matching. I have the model pulling a homemade track cleaning car that weighs 2.2 ounces and drags a cleaning pad (this single car provides similar resistance of a longer train consist)…

The post Patched C44-9W units from Kato in N Scale appeared first on Model Railroad News.

Review by Joe Martens/photos by Tony Cook

Caboose? No, these are Vans! Enter the Rapido Trains Hawker-Siddeley caboose, or “van,” as they were lovingly known in Canada. This model is another smashing success for the Canadian manufacturer for good reason, as these HO-scale models are jam-packed with details and lighting features.

Prototype History
In the early 1960s, Canadian National Railway (CN) needed a replacement for their aging fleet of wood-end cabooses. They turned to Hawker-Siddeley for this task, and, in 1967, the first examples from an order of 150 steel cabooses delivered to the delight of crews. The steel shells were constructed in Trenton, Nova Scotia, and final assembly occurred in Fort William, Ont. With comfort features including dual oil stoves, a refrigerator, electric power and lighting by way of an axle-driven generator, and fully cushion underframes by Waught, modern features that debuted on these cabooses quickly made their way into CN’s fleet during modernization in the 1970s. An advertisement (shown on the facing page) published by Hawker-Siddeley in October 1968’s Canadian Transportation touts “These cabooses of the future mean the beginning of the end for the little red caboose.” This ad is included in Rapido’s paperwork for this model; a nice touch.

ABOVE: Here’s an end view of two of Rapido Trains’ CN-painted models. Since initial delivery of the prototype, the Late version (left) has had track inspection lights added and the steps painted black. The International version (right) received the same upgrades, plus the FRA yellow sill added for service in the U.S.

The most noticeable difference for these cabooses throughout their service life were the paint schemes. As-delivered, the cabooses had body colored red step wells and end cages. Later in life, the step wells and end cages were painted black. Some cabooses received yellow striping on the side sill for international service into the U.S., and were also modified with FRA-compliant window glass. Some cabooses escaped CN ownership by way of the Cape Breton Development Corporation (Devco) and received new numbers and a neat green with yellow stripes scheme. These were used on coal train service in Nova Scotia until some returned to CN through their acquisition of the Ottawa Central, who had acquired some of the Devco cabooses to run through the 2000s.

These cabooses lasted many years on Canadian National’s roster, through the end of the caboose era in the mid-1990s. Luckily, many have been preserved in museums, as most were still in good condition upon their retirement.

Model Details
The model has a plethora of separately applied metal components. The end platforms and steps of the model are etched-metal and possess excellent see-through characteristics. Numerous metal grab irons can be found across the model painted in accurate hues to match the prototype. The brake wheels and chains on the end cages on both ends are plastic, and thin enough to match the rest of the metal parts for a uniform appearance. The roof features two chimneys with tie-downs on both sides, with extra vents poking through from the bathroom.

ABOVE: The caboose underbody has many details (separately applied and modeled on the base), including complete air piping and cushioning appliances reproduced down the middle. As per prototype, one truck includes an axle-mounted generator for electrical power to the cabin. The end platforms and steps are see-through, and you’ll notice the trainline air hose present, along with coupler cut levers on the ends of this van.

The interior of the model has many features, including the stoves with vents, multiple seats with armrests, ladder to the cupola, and handles on cabinets. Most interior details are plastic, but multiple colors are used for extra detail. With the lights on, the interior details are an area where the value of this caboose shows itself well. The interior is fully painted in multiple colors for even greater realism.

Although there are no rotating bearing caps on this model, all axles do pick up track power for the interior lights. Metal wheels also make for a smooth ride. The underbody contains numerous separately applied brake components, a mix of plastic and metal. Brake piping extends from the brake cylinder and air reservoir near the center of the underbody all the way to both ends of the model under the trucks. The underframe also has white lettering with the car weight. The axle-mounted generator is included as well, with a two-piece design that allows the truck to swivel…

The post An Essential Canadian Caboose from Rapido Trains in HO appeared first on Model Railroad News.