Along with its top-of-the-line standard gauge freight cars, Lionel upgraded its high-end O gauge freight line in 1926: "In designing this marvelous new series of Lionel 'O' Gauge Freight Cars, our aim has been to express the individuality of every type of commercial freight car used on all railroads. Many new features never before carried out to such perfection are apparent in these cars." Catalog numbers, initially in the 800 series when the cars were equipped with latch couplers, were changed to 2800 series when new automatic box couplers were added in 1938.