Milwaukee, Wis. - Walthers announces the latest steam locomotive in the Heritage N Scale Steam Collection, the USRA 0-8-0. These all-new models will be available in August 2007.

As the U.S. entered World War I, the need to move freight cars quickly in yards, industrial areas and ports became critical. But many railroads soon found existing switchers weren't up to the job. Once the United States Railway Administration (USRA) assumed control, the need for larger and more powerful switch engines soon became a priority. As with road engines, the USRA designed both a light (0-6-0) and heavy switcher (0-8-0), and construction began in 1918.

USRA 0-8-0 locos soon proved themselves in all kinds of service because their size allowed them to handle all types of switching and transfer work. In addition, larger tenders increased efficiency, as fewer trips to the water tank and coal tower were needed. In service, 0-8-0s typically worked in large and small yards, city industrial districts, ports and at large industries like steel mills.

Between 1918 and 1920 Alco, Baldwin and Lima constructed 175 locomotives to USRA designs which were allocated to 21 different railroads. Following the end of USRA control in 1920, many roads ordered copies of these successful switchers with over 1,100 constructed for more than 35 railroads, while others used the design as a starting point for improved 0-8-0s. Owners of original engines also began modifying them to match their own standards; many rebuilt tender coal bunkers to improve rearward visibility, and/or replaced headlights, bells and other appliances. The USRA 0-8-0s were long lived; N&W was still building locos based on the design into 1953, and 0-8-0s were some of the last steam locos in operation on several roads, with many running into the late 50s.

A great addition to any steam era railroad, the new Heritage Steam Collection USRA 0-8-0 brings a much-requested prototype to N Scale. These locomotives operated on dozens of railroads, so they will be at home on any steam- and transition-era layout. This new model has performance features modelers expect in modern N Scale steam locomotives:

• All Drivers Geared
• Traction Tires for Superior Pulling Power
• All-Wheel Electrical Pickup on Loco & Tender
• DCC Ready - Socket in Tender
• Railroad-Specific Details
• Accumate® Knuckle Couplers on Pilot & Tender
• Flywheel Equipped for Smooth Operation
• Constant Intensity & Directional LED Headlights on Loco and Tender
• RP-25 Contour Wheels - Operates on All Brands of Code 55 or Larger Rail
• Heavy Diecast, Split-Frame Chassis
• Three-Pole Skew-Wound Motor

In addition, the models feature detailed plastic bodies with over 50 hand-applied details and sharp, authentic paint and lettering.

N USRA 0-8-0, $175.00 Each:
920-90000 CB&Q #545
920-90001 CB&Q #549
920-90002 Erie #124
920-90003 Erie #132
920-90004 NKP #206
920-90005 NKP #207
920-90006 NP #1171
920-90007 NP #1173
920-90008 NYC* #7744
920-90009 NYC* #7829
920-90010 SOU #1882
920-90011 SOU #1885
920-90012 Painted, Unlettered

The Heritage Series USRA 0-8-0s will be available in August 2007. For more information on Heritage Series steam locomotives and other Walthers N Scale products, or to locate a dealer, visit Walthers on the Internet at www.walthers.com. Call 414-527-0770 or write Walthers, P.O. Box 3039, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3039.

Accumate® couplers are made under license from Accurail, Inc.

*CSX proprietary marks used by permission of CSX Transportation, Inc.