NEW BOOK! Rio Grande In Color Volume 8: Hauling Freight over the Great Divide
Morning Sun Books announced several new publications for a March 1, 2024 release including Rio Grande In Color Volume 8: Hauling Freight over the Great Divide by Jeff Simley, who was a featured speaker at our convention this summer.
In this new all-color book we witness on Rio Grande’s Tennessee Pass, the SP Central Corridor crossed the Great Divide, a formidable obstacle to east-west rail traffic, in the 1990s. A new locomotive, the GE AC4400CW, was introduced to tame the 3% grades, hauling massive tonnage 24/7 at 10,000+ feet! This included coal and taconite trains at 13,000+ tons, double-stack trains, and a fleet of merchandise freights. Society members are encouraged ORDER NOW at the pre-publication price of $59.95 by using promo code PRE during checkout.
To order your visit: http://aka.rgmhs.org/rgvolume8.
Athearn HO Scale Trinity 5161 Covered Hopper, DRGW Legendary Liveries
If Rio Grande industries had chosen to retain its identity after its 1988 purchase of the SP, Trinity 5161 Covered Hopper with the Flying Grande herald could very well have been spotted moving priority goods between Denver and Salt Lake City.
Athearn announced a new run of its Genesis Trinity 5161 in fantasy schemes including D&RGW. in road numbers 10417 and slated for a 2024 release. This car will be available both as a single and as part of a 3-pack with a CNW and SP models. MSRP for the single car is $59.99 and the 3-pack MSRP is $134.99.
The ready-to-run model features separate brake cylinder, valve and air reservoir with wire brake plumbing, coupler cut lever and air hose on each end, photo-etched metal roof walk, separately applied end cages and etched end platforms, standard size coupler draft gear box with screw mounted lid, body-mounted, McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers, Genesis 100-ton trucks with animated spinning roller bearing caps, 36” machined metal wheels, weighted for optimum performance.
For more information see your lohobby dealer or visit Athearn.com
Athearn Roundhouse HO Scale 50' Waffle High Cube Box
Athearn announced a new run of Roundhouse HO scale 50' waffle high cube box model in D&RGW slated for a March 2025 release. D&RGW road numbers in this run will be 65310, 65327, and 65341 with an MSRP of $29.99.
Based on the prototype XL series 65300-65349 its wasn't until May of 1971 that the Rio Grande purchased more single-door 50-footers and by then the typical ACF boxcar had changed considerably. The 65300 series box car was of exterior post. or single sheathed construction, built to the taller Plate C clearance diagram, and equipped with ACFs Freight Saver sliding center sill, The waffle impressions in the side sheets allowed its DF-2 cross bar pockets to be mounted flush with the interior wall. These cars were mainly used tor hauling copper and lead bullion, so in this case the loaders and cushioned underframe were more useful in preventing damage to the car than to the lading.
The Athearn ready-to-run model features highly-detailed, injection-molded body painted and printed to match D&RGW prototype. Separate brake wheel, body-mounted McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers, Machined wheels with RP25 contours, Weighted for optimum performance. For more information see your local hobby dealer or visit Athearn.com.
Intermountain HO & N Scale Trinity Triple-Bay Rib-Side Covered Hopper Car
Intermountain is booking reservations for an upgraded version of both its HO and N scale Trinity triple-bay rib-side covered hopper cars. The model is based on the Denver & Rio Grande Western prototype Trinity introduced in the 1980s.
The ready-to-run model is painted to represent the February 1983 re-paint of the covered hopper features etched metal roof walks, operating knuckle couplers and appropriate trucks with machined metal wheelsets. Will be available in six D&RGW road numbers (10783,10789 10796,10812,10827, 10845). The HO scale MSRP is $46.95 and the N scale MSRP is $38.95
For more information visit intermountain-railway.com
Tangent Scale Models HO Scale Pullman-Standard PS-1 40’ “Mini-Hy Cube” Box Car
Tangent Scale Models is excited to announce the fourth production run of their unique HO scale PS-1 40’ “Mini-Hy Cube” box car, now available for purchase. These “baby hi-cubes” are early purpose-built boxcars, primarily used for transporting
appliances from the U.S. Midwest. Purchased by five railroads in 1967-1968, they delivered goods across North America and later served in paper loading and company service roles.
These ready-to-run models are meticulously designed with a slight peak roof, separate underframe brake components, narrow ladders, sill steps, and see-through crossover platforms. They are equipped with near-scale draft gear, detailed coupler lift bars, accurate draft gear, and 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with 33” CNC-machined wheelsets and rotating Brenco-6 caps. The models are available in two D&RGW road numbers, each with a distinct scheme: the original delivery scheme (road number 67424) and a repaint scheme (road number 67420), each priced at $50.95.
The Tangent as-delivered D&RGW model represents the boxcar from November 1967. These Rio Grande cars, notable for their large “Rio Grande the ACTION road” graphics and detailed builder data, were used for Whirlpool service on the Erie Lackawanna in Marion, Ohio. The cars also feature black ends for an added touch of elegance.
The Tangent D&RGW repaint model is based on a 1976+ unique Rio Grande car. After sustaining damage, 67420 was repaired and partially
repainted by Midwest Freight Car. The right side and both ends of the car were repainted, with relocated Rio Grande lettering and modified data. The left side retained the original paint and lettering, with some patches. Each end of the car has slightly different stencil locations, and the car also features new white paint and black lettering at the top of each end. This model represents a unique piece of
railroad history, with meticulous attention to detail based on the prototype.
For more information see your local hobby dealer or visit Tangent Scale Models
Walthers HO Scale 89' Flatcar w/Tri-Level Open Auto Rack
Walthers announced in its 2024 winter production schedule a 89' Flatcar w/Tri-Level Open Auto Rack in HO scale based on a common open rack used for hauling new automobiles from the mid-1960s until the late 1970s.
The ready-to-run D&RGW auto rack will be mounted on a Trailer-Train Flatcar TTKX. will feature detailed flatcar with Paragon II style rack, die-cast metal underframe, swinging drawbars for 24" and larger curves, correct 33" RP-25 metal wheelsets & 70-ton trucks, Proto MAX metal knuckle couplers. The decorated DRG&W racks will be mounted on yellow TTX flatcars in four road number 802548, 802631, 802765, 802868 with and MSRP of $44.98.
for more information visit Walthers.com
ScaleTrains Operator HO Scale Thrall 86' High-Cube Double-Plug-Door Boxcar
ScaleTrains has unveiled its latest model in the Operator HO Scale series, the Thrall 86’ Hi-Cube Boxcar, in the D&RGW six road numbers 63950, 63951, 63953, 63954, 63955 and 63956. This model accurately represents the ubiquitous autoparts boxcars slated for a July 2024 release..
The model is a faithful reproduction of the 86’ Hi-Cube Boxcar, a prototype car introduced by Thrall in 1964. These cars were primarily used for transporting lightweight auto parts, including body stampings, interior panels, and seats.
The D&RGW’s first batch of these cars, numbered 63900-63924, were built by Thrall and arrived in September 1964. These cars featured welded sides, dual 10-foot aluminum plug doors, bulkheads, and cushioned sliding center sills. They were delivered in mineral red with the classic flying Rio Grande logo and were acquired for the Ford parts pool. The suggested retail price for this model is $47.99. ScaleTrains also sells a detail kit available separately (SXT81985). Includes, coupler cut levers, trainline hoses, and more. For more information on this
model visit Scaletrains.com.
Atlas Master N Scale 70-Ton Hart Ballast Car
Atlas announced a new run of its N scale version of a 70-ton Hart Ballast car. Based on the prototype Built by ACF® from 1940-1953, the 70-Ton Hart Ballast Cars were formally known as “Hart Selective Service Ballast Cars”, due to the use of specially-designed doors which allowed the lading to be discharged one of three ways: to the center of the rails, to the center and sides of the rails, or to the side of the rails only.
The ready-to-run models come in two D&RGW road numbers 25018 and 25033 which an MSRP of $31.95 features die cast chassis, 70-ton friction bearing trucks, Accumate® offset shank coupler, fully detailed interior, including cross-bracing and side stiffeners,
For more information on this model visit Atlasrr.com.
Broadway Limited Paragon 4 N Scale D&RGW Challenger 4-6-6-4 Locomotive
Broadway Limited is in the process of creating an N scale model based on the Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger steam locomotive, with availability slated for Spring 2024. This model will also be available in the Denver & Rio Grande Western variant in two road numbers 3803 and 3805.
Historically, six of these locomotives were diverted to the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, facilitated by a lease from the War Department’s Defense Plant Corporation. These locomotives, numbered 3900-3905, were classified as the Rio Grande’s Class L-97. In 1947, they were sold to the Clinchfield Railroad and renumbered as 670–675.
The first production run of N scale Challengers by BLI will feature the Paragon4 Sound & Control System with Rolling Thunder. This includes an integral Dual-Mode decoder with back EMF, an operating smoke unit, all-wheel electric pickup, GoPak capacitors, a functioning headlight and rear light, and a separately controlled cab light.
Both the chassis and superstructure of the model are made of diecast metal. Two drivers are equipped with rubber tires for enhanced tractive effort. The N scale model can negotiate a track radius of 8.75", but broader curves will provide a more realistic appearance. In addition to the Paragon4 DCC Sound with an MSRP of $549.99, BLI will offer the Challenger as a Stealth series Tender, a No-Sound / DCC-Ready model with a suggested retail price of $499.95.
For more information visit broadway-limited.com.
