News: Freight Cars
This report lists freight cars that are available or in the works. This page may also contain detailing parts and other items applicable to these cars. Click photos to visit the web sites.
Wrapped Lumber Loads
New to this web site is a company by the name of Hopper Hill Hobbies. Owner Thomas Vaughan hand-builds solid-wood wrapped lumber loads in N- and HO-scales, and he is now expanding into S-scale as well. Please note that their S-scale offerings aren't listed on their web site, yet. Fellow S-modeler, Mark Charles, ordered some to examine them and was impressed with them. His was a scale 60 feet long, 11 feet tall, and 4 feet deep. They should be a perfect fit for the Pre-Size Model Specialties' centerbeam flat cars.
Sn2 Trucks 3D-printer Files
Tom Bell, of Tebee Models, has made available a collection of 3D-printer .stl files of a variety of Sn2 freight car trucks. These can be freely downloaded. He states that he doesn't have the appropriate wheelsets (they are designed to take the Kadee HOn3 ones), so he cannot vouch for the design, but if you try and print them, he would appreciate your feedback.
Review of ScaleTrains' Reefer
TSG Multimedia does a nice review of the recently-released ScaleTrains reefer.
Trailer-on-Flat-Cars with Trailers by ScaleTrains
ScaleTrains announces their next S-scale freight car, the trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC or "Piggy-back") model. Some railroads built these cars from new and some converted existing flat cars into TOFC service. These are the 53'6" General Steel Casting Corp cars, which had been released by S-Helper Service (SHS) in 1997. For the cars with road names previously released, ScaleTrains made sure to use a different road number than what SHS used, so that you can expand on your existing train. The Milwaukee Road car is a new road name, and SHS only released a red/brown TTX car, so the ScaleTrains' yellow car is new as well. ScaleTrains is also offering more road numbers than the original SHS run, for most of the road names. The cars come with one 35-foot dry-goods trailer (additional models available separately). As is standard with ScaleTrains, the models come with hi-rail couplers and wheels installed, and the boxes include the scale couplers and wheels for easy conversion. You can place your pre-order now and they are scheduled to arrive in June of 2026.
Detailing Parts by Ye Olde Huff 'n Puff
In May 2025, the current owners of Ye Olde Huff 'n Puff, LaBelle Woodworking, added their catalog of cast metal S-scale parts to their web site. It is kind of hidden in their site, so this post is to let you know what they have available. Note that the company can also produce, on demand, any of their HO- or O-scale decals in S-scale.
Reefers by ScaleTrains
As the webmaster, I somehow completely forgot to announce the arrival of the ScaleTrains reefers back in mid-September. For that I apologize. Most of the cars are still available for sale at ScaleTrains. These are the late-1920s cars similar to the ones that S-Helper Service had previously released. Multiple road numbers are available, as well as two factory-painted but undecorated models.
Logging Skeleton Car Kit by Cinder Sam
Harry Noble (a.k.a. "Cinder Sam") offers a kit consisting of parts that provide the bodies of three log-carrying cars for $14. A two-pack assembled version is also available for $10. The modeler needs to provide the trucks, with the model designed for use with A.C. Gilbert link-coupler trucks, Lionel archbar trucks, or Marx trucks. Harry is an NASG member. Contact him to order these as follows:
Harry Noble
1124 Old Springfield Pike
Xenia, Ohio 45385
(937) 972-1576 (phone or text)
New Resin Sn42 Freight Car Kits by South Dock Models
If you enjoy Sn42/Sn3.5 and/or New Zealand Railway modeling, you might be interested to know that South Dock Models (based in New Zealand) has significantly expanded their listing of freight and passenger cars, as well as vans (cabooses). There are too many to list individually, so visit their web site to view their entire inventory.
Re-run of Waffle-sided Box Car by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Jim King is will do another run of the 5277cuft waffle-sided box car kit if the demand is there. The first run was done back in 2008. These are 50' cars built starting in 1974 and used by a variety of railroads.
Start an e-mail message (jimking3@charter.net).
Sn42 Container Flat Car Frame by Newfie Bullet
The company makes available a 3D-printed flat car frame for a Canadian National Sn42 car that is designed to carry one 40-foot shipping container or two 20-foot containers. The modeler has to provide the trucks, brake details, couplers, and decals to complete the model. Visit the web site to see a large photo of a prototype car.
CN/Newfoundland Railway Sn42 Box Car Kits by Newfie Bullet
The company has added two new box car bodies to their S-scale line-up. These are 3D-printed by 3DP Train. The modeler will need to provide the appropriate trucks, wheels, couplers, and decals.
Three-axle Buckeye Truck by Earnest Trains
Earnest Trains, a 3D-print products shop based in San Pedro, California, by request, has upscaled one of their HO-scale products into their first S-scale product, a three-axle Buckeye truck. The photo is courtesy of David Henley, who commissioned the item. The truck comes without wheels (David used S Scale America ones) and it is unpainted. The price on the web site is per pair. (please note that their web site is not secure, but when you actually go to pay for your order, you will be taken to a separate secure web site).
Detailing Parts and Loads by Phil's Train Layout Store
The company offers S-scale 3D-printed resin flat car loads and detailing parts. The company is based in London, Ontario, Canada, so expect some extra shipping/delivery fees.
26" Sn3 Wheels by Leadville Designs
Leadville Designs announces Sn3 26" wheels machined from stainless steel to NMRA code 88 standards with pointed-end axles for smooth operation. Overall axle length is 0.885". Four axles per pack.
Lionel Not Quite Done
The Lionel 2025 catalog volume I is out. It celebrates Lionel's 125th anniversary (although the individual corporations representing "Lionel" have come and gone over the decades). On page 184 we find the American Flyer 2025 Christmas box car. It has opening doors and features different images on each side. On page 246 they still list the American Flyer items previously released such as the PRR Docksider and the Polar Express train sets, the Southern Alco PA engines, various hoppers, and box, milk, flat, dump, and passenger cars (please note that a number of photos and their captions don't match!).
ACF Two-bay Covered Hopper Kit (updated) by Mike Fyten
Mike Fyten announces that he has completed the work on his 3D-printed ACF two-bay covered hopper kit. He is offering these at $75 each with free shipping within the U.S. The modeler will need to build and paint the model, and provide trucks, couplers, and decals. Tichy Train Group, for example, makes decals for these cars. Mike does not have a web site, so contact him via e-mail to make arrangements.
Start an e-mail message (mike@kvrr-usa.com).
Outside Clasp 70-ton Trucks by Bonsall Scale Carshops
New-to-S manufacturer Bonsall Scale Carshops has released their 3D-printed trucks. These were trucks used by Carbon County Railway (CBC, Utah), and Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE) hoppers. These trucks are designed to use the NorthWest ShortLine part #37737-4 wheels and to be attached to the body using 2-56 bolster screws. The parts are slightly flexible making it easier to safely insert the wheels. Sold per pair.
Sn2 Russell Trucks by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Smoky Mountain Model Works announces the 36-inch wheelbase Russel truck kit for two-foot narrow-gauge railroads. These can be ordered with or without HOn3 wheelsets.
Sn3 Freight Car Kits by Leadville Designs
Leadville Designs is now accepting pre-orders for these Sn3 freight cars. They are wood kits with details made out of etched-brass, and plastic. The kits come with decals, but no trucks or couplers.
New Freight Car Loads by Terrain3D
Terrain3D announces several new flat car and gondola loads in S-scale. These are 3D-printed, unpainted models. The company only sells through eBay.
Scale America Web Site Updated
"Way back" in 2022 Matt Gaudynski announced the formation of "Scale America", which consists of various brand names merged into one, such as "S Scale America". The company carries various scales. For those not familiar with the connection and history of the Des Plaines Hobbies store, this is basically the continuation of the former manufacturing arm of the Des Plaines Hobbies hobby store, but now set up as a separate entity. Well, their web site has recently been updated and they now offer various freight cars for sale, complete with an online shopping cart system. As of today, included are the S Scale America 52' Evans box cars, the SSA three-bay open-top hoppers, the SSA Intermodal containers, their collection of MicroScale S-scale decals, former River Raisin Models brass detailing parts, and some remaining stock of S-Helper Service freight cars. Their former Fox Valley Models track components are shown and listed, but are still marked as "sold out".
Helium Car Update by Beaver Models
Beaver Models announces that they now have the "metal roof walk" part available if you prefer to have that for your helium car. Greg has also updated the kit's instruction sheet (PDF file is available from the web site's home page).
Shipping Containers by Team Track Models
Team Track Models has added various shipping containers to their product line. These are paper kits that you print yourself and build up into the model. Full instructions are on their web site. Add them to your intermodal cars or build an large intermodal lot in an affordable manner. These are available in various lengths (based on the configuration). Be sure to select "S scale" on their web site, as they offer models in various scales.
ScaleTrains Announces Wood Reefers
ScaleTrains continues with producing S-scale freight cars as part of their S-Helper Service brand name, with this announcement of taking pre-orders for the 40-foot ACF wooden reefer. These cars ran from the late 1920s well into the 1960s. These models will come with hi-rail wheels and couplers installed, and have scale wheels and couplers inside the box. They are expected to arrive in October 2025.
AF Coupler Conversion Kit for Hoppers by Benn Central Shops
Ben Trousdale announces that he has a kit available to allow his Benn Central Shops hopper kits to be coupled to other AF-compatible cars and engines. The kit's contents, priced at $10, are shown in the first photo. The second photo shows how they fit into the Kadee 802 draft gear box for which his cars are designed. These are not available via his 3D Central Trains page, so see his Facebook page, or contact him via e-mail to make arrangements.
Start an e-mail message (ben.benncentral@gmail.com).
Be sure to see all, or other, products announced over the past year via the main News page.