Uncataloged Premier O Scale 36’ Woodsided Reefer Cars Arriving Soon

September 25, 2026 - M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing an exclusive Premier O Scale 36’ Woodsided Reefer in unique Genco Olive Oil livery for M.T.H. Authorized Retailer Roundhouse South. The cars will be available at the end of October in two car numbers in extremely limited quantities.

Item No. 20-94798 Genco Olive Oil 36’ Woodsided Reefer Car
Car No. 1922
Early Order Price: $89.95 (plus freight)
Click HERE to download the order form from Roundhouse South.

Item No. 20-94799 Genco Olive Oil 36’ Woodsided Reefer Car
Car No. 3155
Early Order Price: $89.95 (plus freight)
Click HERE to download the order form from Roundhouse South.

ABOUT THE PREMIER 36’ WOODSIDED REEFER CAR

The coming of the railroad changed the way America ate and drank. Before the iron horse connected every town of any importance to the outside world, most food was grown or produced locally. The arrival of cheap, fast, refrigerated transport — in the form of the woodsided reefer with ice bunkers at each end — enabled local brewers, dairies, meat processors, and other food businesses to become players on a national scale.

Until 1934, shippers could advertise their wares on leased billboard reefers, each a hand-painted traveling work of art. That year, the Interstate Commerce Commission outlawed the flamboyant paint schemes because the cars often hauled shipments from other companies — whose freight bills thus unfairly paid to advertise the lessee’s products.

What doomed the billboard cars was truth in labeling. Depending on shipping needs, billboard cars often carried loads for customers other than the company named on the car sides. A beer company requesting an empty reefer for loading, for example, might find a cheese maker’s delivered to its door. Shippers were not happy when their product was carried in a car bearing a large ad for someone else’s product — they complained that their freight bill had in part paid for another company’s advertising.

Responding to these complaints, the Interstate Commerce Commission in July 1934 mandated the phasing out of billboard reefers and ruled that thereafter, the lessee’s name on a car could be no more than 12" high. By law, all billboard reefers were removed from service by January, 1937, although many soldiered on in drabber paint schemes as late as the 1960s.

Order directly from:

Roundhouse South
4611 S. Ridgewood Avenue
Port Orange, FL 32127
386-304-7002
www.roundhousesouth.com
info@roundhousesouth.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.