Minneapolis & St. Louis bought 468 of these USRA hoppers on the used freight car market between 1941 and 1943. This was in response to the opening of large strip mines in northwestern Illinois and southwestern Iowa a few years before. The cars had originally belonged to Chicago By-Products Coke Company and Westmoreland Coal. Chicago & North Western bought the M&St.L in 1960 and merged into their system.

 These ready-to-run cars will feature:

• diecast slope sheet-hopper bay-center sill assembly
• injection molded plastic sides, ends, and hopper doors
• fully molded brake tank, valve and air lines
• body mounted brake hose detail
• coal load
• lever-style hand brake
• body mounted magnetically operating knuckle couplers
• close coupling
• Fox Valley Models metal wheels

All road names will be available in multiple road numbers. For instance, order a single, a 2-pack and a 3-pack to get all six road numbers on a run. (Some road names will be available in just three road numbers.)