HO 34' 2-Bay Composite Coal Hopper with Load, C&O (RND70804)

HO-scale 34-foot two-bay composite coal hopper with load in Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) livery. The model recreates a wartime War Emergency Composite Hopper and includes a removable coal load, a separately applied brake wheel, and body-mounted McHenry scale knuckle couplers. It rolls on 33-inch machined metal wheels with RP25 contours, is weighted for steady operation, and comes fully assembled and ready to run. The highly detailed injection-molded body is painted and printed for realistic decoration, and the car requires a minimum track radius of 15 inches to operate smoothly.

Prototype notes explain that the hopper’s design emerged to support automated coal handling during wartime, with the War Emergency Composite Hopper standardized in 1942 using wooden sides to conserve steel. This model faithfully captures that heritage with a two-bay body and authentic detailing, providing a credible piece for HO layouts—whether staging coal yard operations, interchange, or mainline scenes—while delivering reliable fit and operation with modern rolling stock components.