Did BN Thrall Gondolas ever have a end stripe?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I’ve recently began hording MDC thrall gons in BN. I knew I should do something to mark the rotarty end since MDC never had anything to mark it on the BN cars.
I could find many photos of the BN thrall gondolas, but all seemed to be recent and have white ends. But looking at similar cars built by FMC, ACF, PS, and a few others on BN’s roster I noticed some had a white stripe. I just couldn’t find a picture of a BN thrall with the stripe, but athearn makes the same car with a stripe.
I though about masking the car off and painting an end white, but the last few factory-painted MDC cars I did this too had the lettering come cleanly off. Then I though about the striped-end cars and came up with an idea when seeing some guys at my MR club making control panels.
They were using 1/8" automotive striping tape, and it looked right for the end stripes. So I picked up a roll from O’riellys auto parts and experimented with 3 cars.


So far I think it’s okay, the tape isn’t very sticky and is hard to contour around the ribs around the end.
My main questions are the following: 1. Did BN thrall Gondolas ever have white end stripes? 2. Do you guys think the tape will work? Or am I better off painting the end white, and likely having to touch-up white spots?

2

I would have to go back and look at my photos, but if memory serves the BN Thrall gons DID have a white stripe ooriginally. This was changed later to an entire end being painted white. When the coal traffic was growing rapidly in the 80s-90s it wasn’t unusual to see variances from car order-to-car order.

I was sorry to see the Thrall gons drop out of service - they LOOKED like a big heavy western coal gondola ought to.

3

well I’ll check when my BN color guide get’s here which should be soon after class, I need to get some BN coal carrying rolling stock.

4

I’ve been checking the guide, I can’t seem to find the car you’re looking for but the ones you reference carry a white stripe on one end. I can’t find the 574— series numbered cars it’s like they were skipped… it goes 569449 which are ex NP 65’ 6" 1,777 cubic foot gondolas then on the next page there’s former CB&Q gondolas which under BN road numbers are 575850 series. did BN own any?

5

Gary, MDC put the wrong numbers on these cars. The prototypes went from 575015-575249. But I think I’m going to go with the white end. The tape doesn’t contour correctly IMO

6

hmmmm, the book is missing them still with the prototype numbers it starts at 575850 series. those must’ve been some very elusive cars.

7

It looks like there were only about 234 Thrall gondolas. Small compared to the 400+ PS ones…

Anyways, I checked videos and viola: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygab6YnYrOI At around 0:56 there is one with the stripe. Looks like I got it in the wrong spot, but there were striped cars…

I like the stripe better, but I’m trying to figure out how to get it painted on.

8

I’ve used electrical tape to help me paint lines on some projects and prevent over painting. make sure if you do use a tape that it is nice and tight on so paint doesn’t seep.

9

BN’s Thrall coal gondola fleet were some of the early cars they used in unit train service. Since they have no discharge gates/hoppers, they must be rotary dumped(or unloaded manually). All the ones I remember seeing in the 70’s had the white stripe on the rotary end. Later cars many times had a white panel if the car was painted black. Later aluminum tub cars have no paint except for the ends(mineral/cascade green/Grinsteen Green) with a white panel or stripe on the rotary end.

Jim

10

534140-5346419 those are the aluminum tub cars you’re referencing in the last bit of your post

I know deluxe innovation has made one of the car types from the 536— series, I’ve seen them on the bay. I need to add to my freight fleet so it counter balances my passenger trains and unit trains are pretty common out here so it’d be a good excuse to get some.