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 |
920-105905 |
| UPC |
616374237234 |
| Scale |
HO (1:87) |
| Car Type |
34' Wood-Sheathed War Emergency Hopper |
| Road Name |
Ann Arbor |
| Road Number |
30940 |
| 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 Ann Arbor
Other roads in this release
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.
Explore More
Browse more Rolling Stock, the full WalthersProto range, and everything on Pre-Order.
