In 1926, Lionel replaced the primitive-looking large-size freight cars it had cataloged for 20 years with the new 200-series standard gauge cars: "Not only are these new cars patterned after the big all-steel cars that carry freight across the country, but they incorporate many original and exclusive features of design that only Lionel can carry out to such perfection. The illustrations clearly show that every known type of modern car is faithfully reproduced by us. It is great fun to convert your 'Lionel Standard' Passenger Train into a big Freighter by adding an assortment of these well-built and handsomely finished cars." The 200-series cars were cataloged as "for use with Locomotives Nos. 380E, 381E, 402E, 408E and 400E," although on one occasion, in the 1930 catalog, they appeared in a De-Luxe set with the smaller 390E steamer.
