Milwaukee, Wis. - Walthers latest release in its HO Scale Great Northern Empire Builder series is the Budd 46-Seat Vista Dome Coach, based on cars numbered #1320-35. These ready-to-run replicas will be available in April 2007 at just $49.98 each.

Budd 46-Seat Vista Dome Coaches are cars that passengers readily identified with the streamlined Empire Builder. Delivered in 1955 by Budd, the stainless steel cars came without the fluted sides typical of Budd-built cars of the era, and were painted to match the rest of the train. Each car offered 46 reserved "Day-Nite Sleepy Hollow" reclining seats with 18 seats ahead of the dome and 28 behind it, all on the main level. The upstairs dome had 24 unreserved lounge-style seats for coach passengers. As originally assigned, each Empire Builder consist included three domes.

The 46-Seat Vista Dome Coaches operated in the traditional Omaha Orange and Pullman Green Empire Builder scheme into 1967 when the GN introduced its modern "Big Sky Blue" and white scheme. Following the Burlington Northern merger in April 1970, some Empire Builder cars were repainted into the Cascade Green and white "Hockey Stick" scheme, which was used until Amtrak took over passenger operations in 1971. The cars went on to serve Amtrak into the 1990s on regular runs and on the Amtrak Auto-Train; as of 2006, several were owned by museums and private individuals.

With the same attention to fine detail found in all Walthers passenger cars, these models come ready to run with flush-fitting windows, working diaphragms, full underbody detail and interiors. The car rides on authentic trucks with metal RP-25 wheels and includes knuckle couplers. Acomplete set of modeler-applied grab irons is also provided. The cars come decorated for several prototype schemes and each includes car name and number decals. Also available is a car decorated for the Empire Builder that includes appropriate sublettering decals for subsidiaries CB&Q (cars #1333-35) and SP&S (car #1332) to which some cars were assigned.

Budd 46-Seat Vista Dome Coach, $49.98 Each:
932-9039 Empire Builder (Omaha Orange, Pullman Green)
932-9091 GN (Big Sky Blue, white)
932-9092 BN "Hockey Stick" (Cascade Green, white)
932-9093 Empire Builder (Omaha Orange, Pullman Green) w/Sublettering Decal Sheet
932-9090 Undecorated

Walthers new Budd 46-Seat Vista Dome Coach is scheduled to arrive in April 2007. For more information on Walthers Empire Builder and other HO Scale passenger cars, or to locate a dealer, visit Walthers on the Internet at walthers.com, call 414-527-0770 or write Walthers, P.O. Box 3039, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3039.