Unfortunately (financially) I like to look at EBay too often and see what things I am unaware of that I might like (not need) to add. Today I came across some Athearn 50’ covered gondala kits (I prefer kits) and ordered one (of course).
Several questions arise:
a) The top seems to have lifting lugs and there does not appear to be dropout hoppers. What materials might have been shipped that needed the weather protection?
b) Since the car with the top on is not especially interesting (other than its variety) I wonder what scene I might create. For example, what would be used to lift the top off; e.g., a cherry picker? And how would materials typically be loaded / unloaded?
Any information would be appreciated. I did not gain much with a google search.
Jeff Wilson’s Kalmbach book “The Model Railroader’s Guide to Freight Cars” says that covered gons were used for loads that needed protection from the elements (well yeah) such as coiled steel. That was prior to the popularity of specific coil steel cars with removable lids. There may have been minerals, metals, and woods that were shipped by gon that the recipients wanted to receive dry.
Athearn has been making their covered gondola since about 1965. They have a whole bunch due in next month. The model is kind of crude, and it’s not an accurate model of anything. I would be totally in if they did a new accurate one for the Burlington.
Atlas made some gondola covers that they sold separately. Not surprisingly, they fit on some of their gondolas. They are much more modern than the Athearn.
My thought was also that these cars would be loaded with plate. But, apparently, coils were much smaller back when these cars were first produced.
A quote from MFCL:
“Either dozens or none per gon…The monster coils you see today are more of a 60’s thing. Back in the 50’s coils were much smaller 2-3 feet in diameter, biggest coils were about 55 inches in diameter. Larger pieces were shipped as flat blanks.”
Of course, for us modelers it likely doesn’t matter; since we’re running them as closed cars, anyway. Unless, of course, you’re showing loading or unloading.
In the 1950s the New haven Railroad ordered 15 covered gondolas in a 50 foot length. They were originally used for the Brass industry around Waterbury Ct and the Naugatuck river valley.They were also used in the steel industry I remember seeing these cars in Putnam Ct for a steel company.
I seem to recall somewhere along the line reading about a railroad that used covered gondolas for sand for their locomotives. Like, rather than having a small sand drying operation at each engine facility, they had one centralized one and sent dried sand out by covered gon to where it was needed.
Interesting. How would these be emptied? I don’t notice dump type hoppers. Would they be turned upside down? Seems inefficient to dig everything out with some kind of scoop device?
I assembled my Athearn kit yesterday. Since the top was one piece and not so amenable to splitting where that would look like 3 separate pieces I decided to not make it removeable. It had a bit of an upward bow so I decided to glue it on. The “load” is a few British pennies (don’t expect to use them) to get the weight near spec for the length.
I find the car an interesting variation for my freight trains.
I checked in my color guide and these cars were 52’6" in interior length and at least 4’ longer than the Athearn car, that was designed to fit the frame from the 50’ flat car, which itself was 2’6" short and designed to fit in Athearns small box.
By the way here is a Walthers 52’6" Gon with an Eastern Car Works cover, which you will note is much higher than the Athearn cover which will allow for transporting the larger coil sizes.
Interesting. How would these be emptied? I don’t notice dump type hoppers. Would they be turned upside down? Seems inefficient to dig everything out with some kind of scoop device?
I do NOT know how the long gons were emptied, as when I worked over there forty-five-odd years ago the ore was moved in bottom-dump cars.
I never looked into the dumping part, as it was straight forward. Many of the shorty ore cars, 373 and 377s had their paint burnt off on side sheets to thaw out frozen concentrates. When it really rained, fluid slurry-type concentrates would ooze from around bottom dump doors, leaving metal cow pies all over, which when dry, would solidify and could be broken with hand similar to shortbread. Doors plugged with rags when bent.
The concentrate smelled ’ bad ’ and you did not want to get it in your eyes, lungs or mouth. Ugly stuff and it got all over you when switching them.
When the mine closed and the CP gons were going for scrap, they were lined up here for a train. I looked inside and there was concentrate residue all around the perimeter inside as if ore had been scooped out with overhead clamshell or mini backhoe device.
Apparently the scrapper wanted a hefty surcharge per car to scrap these cars as concentrate contaminated the car metal and had become a Hazmat issue on their site.
They all knew the mine here was closing, so they let things go, and cars ALWAYS carried same lading, so cleanliness inside not an issue.
The Shorty ore cars had hosts of restrictions when in trains and were limited to 25 MPH as I recall, altho’ most had roller bearing conversions installed by the end. These cars were NOT referred to as Je
Solid bottom gons (open or covered) hauling loose materials were emptied often by clamshell type shovels followed by guys with hand shovels (or if the material was steel scrap or metal filings and turnings, by electric magnets on cranes).
I have seen photos of gondola roofs that have hatches, just like covered hoppers, which suggests that at least some covered gons were used to ship powdered or pelletized materials.
The 1961 Car Builder’s Cyc shows a Stan Ray diagonal panel removable roof for gondolas. That would resemble the diagonal panel boxcar/reefer roofs you see on some models.
