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Rapido • Home Shops Collaboration (V&O 17085) • Autoflood III Coal Hopper • Virginian & Ohio #17085 • HO Scale

Rapido • Home Shops Collaboration (V&O 17085) • Autoflood III Coal Hopper • Virginian & Ohio #17085 • HO Scale

$56.99
$56.99
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Virginian & Ohio AutoFlood III Coal Hopper

HO Scale Ready-to-Run Coal Hopper

A Home Shops exclusive Rapido AutoFlood III coal hopper celebrating the legendary Virginian & Ohio with premium detail and modern freight car realism.

Product Overview

The Virginian & Ohio is one of the most beloved names in model railroading, made famous by Allen McClelland’s groundbreaking layout and its realistic approach to railroad operations, corporate identity, and believable freelance modeling. This Home Shops exclusive brings that legacy to a modern freight car with the Rapido Trains AutoFlood III Coal Hopper decorated for the V&O.

AutoFlood III hoppers are purpose-built for heavy coal service, making them a natural fit for Appalachian-inspired operations and modern unit coal trains. With their high-capacity design, detailed outlet gates, end cages, and heavy-duty appearance, these cars look right at home moving black diamonds from the mines to power plants, export terminals, and industrial customers.

Rapido’s model captures the prototype with exceptional detail, including a die-cast frame and floor for proper weight, see-through etched end platforms, detailed end cages, factory-installed grab irons, crisp lettering, and a removable coal load. Whether you are a longtime Virginian & Ohio fan, a coal-hauling modeler, or a collector of Home Shops exclusives, this hopper is a standout addition to any HO scale freight roster.

Product Features

The Rapido Trains HO scale Autoflood III Hopper features:

•Die-cast frame and floor for optimum car weight
•Full interior rivet and K-member details
•Super-detailed end cages including separate air and brake piping
•Barber S-2 100-ton trucks with metal wheels
•Hopper bays feature highly-detailed outlet gates
•Etched, see-through end cross-over platforms
•Full end detail, including uncoupling levers
•Separate grab irons installed at the factory
•Crisp paint and lettering
•Removable coal load included
•Multiple road numbers available for each scheme

Why We Love This Car

The Virginian & Ohio holds a special place in model railroading history because it showed how powerful a believable freelance railroad could be. Rather than feeling fictional for the sake of being fictional, the V&O had purpose, geography, operating logic, and a visual identity that inspired generations of model railroaders.

Pairing that heritage with Rapido’s AutoFlood III hopper is a fantastic match. Coal traffic fits naturally with the V&O story, and this modern hopper gives the railroad a fresh, contemporary freight car while still honoring its Appalachian coal-hauling spirit.

We especially appreciate the combination of Home Shops exclusivity, Rapido detail, and V&O nostalgia. The removable coal load, die-cast frame, etched end platforms, detailed end cages, and crisp lettering make this car just as satisfying for operators as it is for collectors.

Add a Home Shops Exclusive V&O Hopper to Your Fleet

With its legendary Virginian & Ohio identity, premium Rapido construction, removable coal load, and highly detailed AutoFlood III tooling, this HO scale hopper is a must-have for V&O fans, coal operators, and collectors of exclusive freight cars.

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