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The focus of this website is Walthers HO-scale freight car kits
from the mid-1980s to the present day.
Walthers offered HO-scale freight car kits prior to the period detailed
on this site, however what I would refer to as the Contemporary Era for the company's efforts begins in 1984.
Following Train Miniature's departure from the hobby market, Walthers
obtained a number of freight car molds that had been in Train Miniature's product line. These kits, box cars, reefers,
stock cars, hoppers, and more, represent the first easy to build non-flat stock plastic models to be sold under the Walthers
name in the HO-scale freight car market.
Walthers expanded beyond the former Train Miniature cars and by the late '80s had a growing
roster of all-new tooling examples on the market.
An interesting feature about the Walthers line is the company's
theme packaging of kits. Walthers produces HO-scale freight cars, locomotives, structures, vehicles, and accessories
and often combines all these product lines into a complete themed group. The Steel Mill group is an excellent example
of the various items from different product lines brought together to create a total scene ready for layout/opeartion implementation.
Walthers had even gone so far as to produce books to support its
theme products. The "Driving Force" publication outlined the relationship between the auto industry and railroads.
This attention Walthers gives to the whole complete scene or total package is unique in the
hobby business.
About This Site
My goal in detailing the Walthers line of HO-scale freight car kits was to present via this
website what kits had been produced during the period (1984-present). In presenting each freight car, I attempt
to provide important information: the stock number; an image example of each roadname; date of original issue; pricing
information; and other point of interest.
This site provides a history for cars that you might discover are older or inherited from another
company's product line. If you've wondered what other roadnames might have been produced in the plast, this site gives
that information and image whenever obtainable. This information may serve a guide to looking around on the internet
at places like eBay or at the next swap meet you attend.
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