Unlike equipment that carried a variety of loads, like boxcars, flatcars, and gondolas, this four-bay hopper was designed specifically for one cargo: bituminous coal. Its capacity matched the volume of coal that a pair of typical 70-ton freight trucks could carry. And its slope sheets - the angled floors at either end of the car - were set at precisely the angle at which coal would flow easily from its bottom doors. (Covered grain hoppers, for example, require much steeper slope sheets.)

The large four-bay car was ideal for delivery of bituminous coal to large industrial customers and railroads. In contrast, cleaner-burning anthracite coal, shipped more commonly to small, local coal dealers who served the home heating market, often traveled in smaller two-bay hoppers.

High quality, traditionally sized RailKing Freight Cars provide detailed bodies and colorful paint schemes for the O Gauge railroader. MTH makes an enormous variety of RailKing Freight Cars, including many different car types and roadnames. No matter what era or part of the country you are modeling, RailKing is sure to have something for you.