Atlas O 3001390 - Premier - 2-Bay Offset Hopper Car "Chicago & Eastern Illinois"

• Road Name: Chicago & Eastern Illinois
• Road Number: 96128, 96157, 96201, 96227
• Product Line: Premier
• Scale: O Scale
• System: 3-Rail

Features:

• Intricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body
• Metal Wheels and Axles
• Die-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks
• Fast-Angle Wheel Sets
• Needle-Point Axles
• Removable coal load included
• (2) Operating Die-Cast Metal Couplers
• O Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads
• Detailed Brake Wheel
• Separate Metal Handrails
• 1:48 Scale Dimensions
• Unit Measures:9 1/2” x 2 1/2” x 3”
• Operates On O-31 Curves

Overview:

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) developed a standard design for 50-ton and 70-ton twin offset open hopper cars starting in the late 1920s. The design was modified in the mid 1930s, and through 1960 over 127,000 cars had been built to AAR specifications. Eastern coal carriers amassed the largest fleets - however, the twin offset hopper design was not limited to coal service, with ore and aggregates also being hauled. They could also be found operating in a wide range of services including unit coal trains, blocks of loaded cars destined to a large consignee, and even “loose” single cars headed to smaller customers.