Uncataloged O Scale Premier 40’ USRA Single Sheathed Box Car Announced

September 16, 2025 - M.T.H. Electric Trains has announced an exclusive and uncataloged Premier O Scale 40’ USRA Single Sheathed Box Car in Monon livery for M.T.H. Authorized Retailer Mr. Muffin's Trains in Atlanta, Indiana. These cars will be offered in four authentic car numbers and will be available in extremely limited quantities beginning in January 2026.

Item No. 20-99457 Monon 40’ USRA Single Sheathed Box Car
Car No. 19161
Early Order Price: $69.95 (plus freight)
Click HERE to order from Mr. Muffins.

Item No. 20-99458 Monon 40’ USRA Single Sheathed Box Car
Car No. 19168
Early Order Price: $69.95 (plus freight)
Click HERE to order from Mr. Muffins.

Item No. 20-99459 Monon 40’ USRA Single Sheathed Box Car
Car No. 19172
Early Order Price: $69.95 (plus freight)
Click HERE to order from Mr. Muffins.

Item No. 20-99460 Monon 40’ USRA Single Sheathed Box Car
Car No. 19176
Early Order Price: $69.95 (plus freight)
Click HERE to order from Mr. Muffins.

ABOUT THE PREMIER O SCALE 40’ USRA SINGLE 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.

In the end, however, very few cars were delivered before war’s end, and a good deal of wrangling ensued over the final car allocations. By the time the last cars were delivered in 1920, 25,000 single-sheathed cars had been accepted by 22 railroads and 24,500 of the double-sheathed design by 24 railroads. Very few roads rostered both types. The USRA designs proved durable enough that many cars served through the next World War and years beyond, rolling alongside their newer all-steel brethren.

Our accurate, beautifully detailed model of the USRA single-sheathed car features simulated wood grain on the car sides and doors, see-through wood-grained roof walk, detailed brake system on the B end and underframe, metal corner steps, opening doors, and separately applied metal grab irons on the sides, ends, doors and roof walk.

Order directly from:

Mr. Muffin's Trains
165 E. Main St.
Atlanta, IN 46031
765-292-2022
Email: mrmuffin@mrmuffinstrains.com
www.mrmuffinstrains.com

M.T.H. Electric Trains has released the latest DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WTIU) firmware for owners of the DCS WTIU (Item No. 50-1039). This latest firmware allows for connectivity to Lionel command control hardware to allow DCS control of Lionel and Atlas locomotives in command mode. The download includes the following updates and improvements:

• Support for the WTIU - Lionel Base3 Connectivity
• Support for the WTIU - Lionel Legacy Command Base Connectivity
• Support for the WTIU - Lionel TMCC Base Connectivity
• Fix Clickety-Clack, Cab Chatter, and Marker Light Control
• Fix WTIU Version Cmd

  Learn about this FREE WTIU-Only download by going HERE. This firmware is only available for the WTIU. Owners of older TIUs should NOT use this firmware in their devices.

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  M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing RailKing and Premier O Gauge Flat Cars with Garbage Truck Loads, each sporting unique D.O.G.E. livery this winter. Each item will be limited in production and expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in December 2025.

  Check out each of these offerings HERE.

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

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  M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing RailKing 50' Modern Box Cars in six different roadnames next winter. Each item will be limited in production and expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in February 2026.

  Check out each of these offerings HERE.

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