February 25, 2026 - M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing the 2026 Premier O Scale 40’ USRA Double Sheathed Box Car in SIX different schemes this Fall. Each of these offerings will be produced in two unique car numbers and is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in October 2026.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

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

ABOUT THE O SCALE 40’ USRA DOUBLE SHEATHED BOX CAR

At midnight on Monday, December 31, 1917, the federal government took control of the U.S. railroad system. Acting under wartime powers granted to him by congress, President Woodrow Wilson had nationalized the railroads when they proved unequal to the task of moving massive amounts of men and materiel for the Great War in Europe. Although hostilities would end in 11 months, government control would last until 1920. The agency that ran the trains was the United States Railroad Administration, or USRA, and one of its chief accomplishments was the building of nearly 100,000 freight cars of five standard designs, to relieve equipment shortages.

What would become the car committee of the USRA had actually started its work in the summer of 1917. Appointed by the Council of National Defense, the committee members were high-ranking executives from Baldwin Locomotive Works, American Car & Foundry, Pullman, and other car builders. Because they had a head start, their finalized car designs were ready within three months of the government takeover. The five body types eventually produced in quantity were a 50-ton steel frame single-sheathed box car, a 40-ton steel frame double-sheathed box car, a 55-ton steel 2-bay hopper, a 50-ton composite drop-bottom gondola, and a 70-ton steel mill gondola.

The twin box car designs reflected the car committee’s indecision about which design was actually superior, as well as the perception that splitting production between the two types would speed wartime delivery. The use of wooden sides with steel underframe, ends, side framing and roofs reflected common practice of the time, when the steel car era was not yet in full swing. A wartime shortage of plate steel was also an important consideration.

The double-sheathed car had a heavy fishbelly underframe and steel side framing sandwiched between vertically paneled inner and outer wood walls. The single sheathed design had a straight center sill, exposed steel framing, and a side wall built of 18’ lengths of lumber that were more expensive and harder to obtain than the lumber for double-sheathed cars. The single-sheathed cars, however, were lighter and easier to maintain. The original wartime order was for 25,000 of each type, allocated among 60 railroads.

• Intricately Detailed Durable ABS Body
• Metal Wheels and Axles
• Die-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks
• Operating Die-Cast Metal Couplers
• Colorful, Attractive Paint Schemes
• Decorative Brake Wheels
• Separate Metal Handrails
• Fast-Angle Wheel Sets
• Needle-Point Axles
• Sliding Car Doors
• 1:48 Scale Dimensions
• O Scale Kadee Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads
• Unit Measures: 11 5/8" x 2 5/8" x 3 3/4"
• Operates On O-31 Curves

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

February 25, 2026 – M.T.H. Electric Trains has released updated iOS and Android versions of the DCS App that are required for use with the DCS WTIU WiFi Track Interface Unit. The new version number is v4.04, Build 2511.

• Fixes various freezing bugs mainly impacting steam engines
• Improves network functionality for screen rotation and app switching
• Fixes import/export functionality
• Fixes issues with legacy lashups
• Assorted other minor fixes

If your device is not configured for auto updates, visit the Apple APP Store or Google Play Store, search for the MTH DCS app and upgrade it now.

M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing the 2026 RailKing O Scale MP15 AC/DC Diesel Locomotive in SIX roadnames this Summer. Each locomotive will be available in extremely limited quantities and are expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in June 2026.

Check out each of these offerings 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 RailKing O Gauge Box Car w/Power Meter in FOUR different schemes this Summer. Each of these offerings is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in July 2026.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

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