[Pre-Order] WalthersProto 920-105916 | 34' Wood-Sheathed War Emergency Hopper - Ready to Run - Illinois Central #73478 | HO Scale

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 920-105916 UPC 616374237340 Scale HO (1:87) Car Type 34' Wood-Sheathed War Emergency Hopper Road Name Illinois Central Road Number 73478 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 Illinois Central 920-105914 Illinois Central #73015 920-105915 Illinois Central #73223 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 920-105911 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #194632 920-105912 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #194789 920-105913 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #194876 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. Explore More Browse more Rolling Stock, the full WalthersProto range, and everything on Pre-Order.