Virginian 6-Car Fish Belly Hopper Car Set

Unlike equipment that carried a variety of loads, like boxcars, flatcars, and gondolas, this two-bay hopper was designed specifically for one cargo: anthracite coal on railroads of the eastern seaboard. Its capacity matched the volume of coal that a pair of typical 50-ton freight trucks could carry. And its "fishbelly" 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 two-bay car was ideal for delivery of clean-burning anthracite to coal dealers who served the home heating market. In contrast, dirtier-burning bituminous coal, used more commonly by large industrial customers, often traveled in bigger three- and four-bay hoppers.

MTH Premier O Scale freight car sets are the perfect complement to many of the locomotives featured earlier in this catalog. They also go great with any manufacturer's scale proportioned O Gauge locomotives.

Each car in these sets is individually numbered for authentic realism. And, each set is available in two item numbers. The second item number features an entirely different set of 6 cars, each also individually numbered, allowing you to obtain a total of 12 different numbered cars if desired. When you prefer the convenience of a ready-to-run unit train, M.T.H. Premier Line 6-car sets are a great choice.