Uncataloged O Scale Premier 50’ Waffle Box Car NOW IN STOCK

September 30, 2026 - M.T.H. Electric Trains has released an exclusive Premier O Scale 50' Waffle Box Car in unique Denver Rio Grande U.P. Heritage livery for exclusive distribution for M.T.H. Authorized Retailer The Train Loft. The cars are now available in two car numbers in extremely limited quantities.

Item No. 20-99489 Denver Rio Grande 50’ Waffle Box Car
Car No. 960874
Sale Price: $84.95
Download The Order Form: HERE to order this item from Train Loft.

Item No. 20-99490 Denver Rio Grande 50’ Waffle Box Car
Car No. 960879
Sale Price: $84.95
Download The Order Form: HERE to order this item from Train Loft.

ABOUT THE PREMIER O SCALE 50' WAFFLE BOX CAR

In designing a boxcar interior, freight car manufacturers must balance two competing desires. The first is for a smooth interior wall, with nothing to snag, puncture or otherwise damage a load. One modern solution to this was the exterior post car, with its vertical support posts on the outside to allow for an unbroken interior surface. The second desire, however, is for wall-mounted tie-downs or other attachment devices to secure the cargo, to prevent shifting and damage en route. The waffle-side boxcar, introduced in the mid-1970s, successfully satisfied both desires.

The waffle-like bumps on the exterior of the car are actually recesses stamped into the inner wall to accommodate load-restraining devices. Thus the car presents a smooth interior wall for load safety, plus the ability to fasten load restraints almost anywhere in the car. This is especially useful for loads that, as truckers would say, "weigh out before they cube out" — i.e., reach the car’s maximum load weight with space remaining in the car, and need to be restrained so they won’t shift into the empty space and get damaged. Loads commonly handled in waffle-side boxcars include furniture, appliances, auto parts, and rolls of paper for the printing industry.

Like other modern boxcar designs, waffle-side cars lack roof walks and, with roof access no longer needed, have end ladders that run only partway up the sides, to allow crew members to ride the cars during switching moves.

The Southern Railway was one of the early adopters of the waffle-side design, taking its first delivery of 70-ton, 50’ cars from Pullman-Standard in 1974. It eventually rostered nearly 5,000 waffle-side cars, boldly emblazoned "Southern Gives a Green Light to Innovations." Many other carriers followed suit, buying boxcars with various waffling patterns from a variety of builders. Once quite common, waffle-side cars still ply the rails today but, like other boxcars, are less often seen because containerization has taken over many of the cargos once carried in boxcars.

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE THRU

The Train Loft
4007-B Country Club Road
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104
336-760-9817
www.trainloft.com
JKonc52032@aol.com

New Long Island Paint Scheme Added To Premier RS-3 Production

September 8, 2026 - M.T.H. Electric Trains will be adding a third Long Island Premier O Scale RS-3 Diesel Locomotive to this winter's production run announced during the week of August 30th. The third scheme will feature the classic Dashing Dan paint scheme and comes in two different cab numbers in both hi-rail and scale wheel configurations. The locomotives are expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in December 2026.

Check out all 12 paint schemes by going HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing the 2026 Premier O Scale 40’ AAR Box Car in SIX different livery configurations next Spring. Each of these offerings are limited in production and expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in May 2027.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.