Frisco began rebuilding their 3,500 car USRA 2-bay hopper fleet with panel sides in 1943. At first glance, one might think Frisco wouldn’t be much of a coal hauler. But in fact they served big coal producing regions in eastern Kansas and Oklahoma, western Arkansas as well as an important deposit in northern Alabama. Much of this coal was interchanged to connecting lines for delivery to steel mills. 

 These cars first appeared in the 1930’s as some early 2-bay hoppers came due for heavy maintenance. A predecessor of Standard Railway Equipment introduced replacement side panels that were bulged outward between the ribs for the purpose of increasing the interior capacity of the cars. A number of railroads adopted these panels, or those from competing suppliers, for a portion of their 30’6” 2-Bay Hopper fleets.

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.)