WalthersProto HO 34' Steel-Sheathed War Emergency Hopper - Ready to Run -- Santa Fe (ATSF) #180687

Add an essential piece of World War II and transition-era railroad history to your HO Scale freight roster with the WalthersProto 34' War Emergency Hopper. Introduced by the War Production Board in 1942, these cars were designed to conserve critical steel for military production while meeting the growing demand to haul coal and other vital commodities across the home front. To reduce steel consumption, they featured composite construction with wood sides and end slopes, while steel was reserved for the frame and brake equipment, with some cars using thinner steel, not vital for war production, for body construction. Although built as a wartime solution, many remained in revenue service for years after World War II. Features:

• Factory-installed wire grab irons
• Detailed underbody brake equipment
• Added weights for excellent tracking, loaded or empty
• RP-25 turned-metal wheelsets
• Proto MAX(TM) metal knuckle couplers