Chicago & Eastern Illinois picked up 260 of these hoppers from a used (freight) car dealer in 1940. The new additions received this paint scheme including the distinctive “For DEPENDABLE HEAT AND POWER, ILLINOIS AND INDIANA COAL” logo to the left of the reporting marks. C&EI ran south from Chicago before separating into three distinct routes. The eastern line ran to Evansville where they interchanged with L&N for points in the Deep South. The middle line served the extensive coal fields of Southern Illinois before crossing the massive Thebes Bridge to reach Cotton Belt, Frisco and MoPac connections in Chaffee, Missouri. The third line ran to St. Louis, partially on a line shared with Big Four.

These ready-to-run cars will feature:

• diecast slope sheet-hopper bay-center sill assembly
• injection molded plastic sides, ends, and hopper doors
• fully molded brake tank, valve and air lines
• body mounted brake hose detail
• coal load
• lever-style hand brake
• body mounted magnetically operating knuckle couplers
• close coupling
• Fox Valley Models metal wheels

All road names will be available in multiple road numbers. For instance, order a single, a 2-pack and a 3-pack to get all six road numbers on a run. (Some road names will be available in just three road numbers.)