gilbert HO Cast metal drop center flat - anyone have spare original loads?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I picked up two gilbert HO cast all metal drop center flats recently. No trucks or couplers.

Cast data reads P16-C-959 which so far has not revealed any clues as to the intended “use” of this car. It may only be a casting or pattern number.

appears to be a two wheel truck.

I think its the same as the Gilbert HO model # 503 0r 33503 http://www.gilbertho.org/rolling_stock/33503.htm

I assume it is not prototypical but I like the challenge of building it up.

Does anyone have some transformers as shown in the link?

kgill

I may put a prime mover engine on it if it looks right.

2

I have one just like in the picture - the bolster above the ‘talgo’ trucks makes it ride a little high. One of these days it will get a complete ‘rebuild’ - I have the Champ decals for the NH car…

Jim

3

I have a similar car, but it’s labeled for Marx and has a silver plastic generator on it.

I forget the roadname. It came in a box of stuff from a neighbor who didn’t want to “play with trains” anymore. [8-|]

Eric

4

Gilbert made this car under a couple of different numbers; 129, 503, 33503 and3537. The first three had an electrical transformer as the load, the latter was a track cleaner car. All of them ran on standard 4-wheel trucks with body-mounted “horn hook” couplers.

5

Stebbycentral,

Thanks. Your clue was the winner. I didn’t catch the track cleaner option until you mentioned it.

I should have stated my car bodies had body mounted coupler pockets.

I have the track cleaner car and its at this link

http://www.gilbertho.org/rolling_stock/33537.htm

Ill join the gilbert Yahoo group but now Im wondering if I have anything worth anything or just go ahead and build them up. I didn’t want a track cleaner.

Thanks!

6

HO-503 from the 1955 catalog: http://hoseeker.org/gilbertinformation/gilbert1955infopage11.jpg

HO-33503 from the 1957 catalog: http://hoseeker.org/gilbertinformation/gilbert1957infopage3.jpg

HO-33537 from the 1962 catalog: http://hoseeker.org/gilbertinformation/gilbertcatalog1962pg08.jpg