In 1942 the War Production Board had a problem: the railroads needed more hoppers to move coal and other vital freight, and every ton of steel was spoken for by the war effort. The answer was the War Emergency hopper, built to conserve critical steel by using wood for the sides and end slopes, with steel reserved for the frame and brake gear.
They were meant as a stopgap. Plenty of them stayed in revenue service for years after the war, which makes them a useful car for anything from a wartime layout to a 1950s coal drag.
Pre-Order Details
Reserve by
30 August 2026
Expected release
Winter 2027
Payment
Paid in full at checkout
Specifications
Brand
WalthersProto
Item Number
920-105912
UPC
616374237302
Scale
HO (1:87)
Car Type
34' Wood-Sheathed War Emergency Hopper
Road Name
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Road Number
194789
Assembly
Ready to run
Condition
New
Features
Prototype introduced by the War Production Board in 1942
Composite construction using wood to conserve wartime steel
Factory-installed wire grab irons
Detailed underframe and brake gear
Many remained in service well after the war, so it suits 1940s through 1960s operations
Scale: HO (1:87)
More in This Series
War Emergency hoppers ran in blocks, so most layouts want several.
More Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
920-105911 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #194632
920-105913 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #194876
Other roads in this release
920-105905 Ann Arbor #30940
920-105906 Ann Arbor #30945
920-105907 Ann Arbor #30956
920-105908 Santa Fe #180624
920-105909 Santa Fe #180687
920-105910 Santa Fe #180705
920-105914 Illinois Central #73015
920-105915 Illinois Central #73223
920-105916 Illinois Central #73478
920-105917 Louisville & Nashville #31675
920-105918 Louisville & Nashville #31696
920-105919 Louisville & Nashville #31740
Frequently Asked Questions
When will it ship?Walthers expects this run in Winter 2027. We ship it the day it reaches us.
How does the pre-order work?This is a pre-paid pre-order. You pay in full at checkout and your unit is locked in. If you cancel before it ships, 90% is refundable and we keep a 10% cancellation fee.
What is a War Emergency hopper?A wartime design that substituted wood for scarce steel. Cars like these kept coal moving while steel went to the war effort.
Does the photo show this exact road number?No. Walthers supplies one photo per paint scheme and labels it as a previously released version, so the number on the car in the image may differ from the one you receive.
Is it ready to run?Yes, it comes assembled and ready for the layout.
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