Gondola load in link (ca. 1928)

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Having fun watching vintage NYC footage (ca. 1928) posted on Youtube. Can anyhow identify the containers/structures/load being transported in the gondola at the 6:57-7:05 mark of the link below?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTpEIb-SuoM

  • All have reinforced slanted rooves with a rope or cable for lifting purposes(?)
  • Four have doors with latches; two have neither
  • The 1st one has visible reinforcement on the end - Noting the gap inbetween each container, I’m presuming this is found on all of them.
  • The 3rd one in has stenciled over the door what appears to be “The LEL Company 315”.

Just curious if anyone has any information on these. Would make for an interesting load for a gondola…

Thanks,

Tom

2

Great video Tom. The only thing I can add, from what I’ve read, those containers were a way to handle LCL commodies.

Mike.

3

Maybe door were only on one side and you are looking at the backs of 2 of the containers with doors on the opposite side.

4

If it’s shaped like a skinny house, Henry, then - yea, that’s probably what I’m seeing. And, looking at the video again, it does look like each one comes to a peak in the middle.

I’m also trying to determine what class locomotive NYC #1904 is in 6:10-6:19. It’s not an S-motor (Boxcab). It’s not a shay. It doesn’t match anything I can find in any of my accessible NYC references. And having the wheels covered up doesn’t help, either. [:S]

Tom

5

They are LCL containers and some are stenciled “LCL” not LEL.

Googling “NYC steam dummy engines”, I found this:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33134.0

Its probably an early shay.

6

Thanks for the correction, Dave. Are LCL (& FCL) containers limited in the type of cargo that can be stored in them?

Thanks also for the additional link. My gut feeling was that it might be a shay, since the footage was shot in Manhattan. However, the one photo I located online was the bottom one in the link you shared.

Tom

7

There’s an 0-6-0 hiding under that sheathing, Tom:

NYC_westside0-6-0 by Edmund, on Flickr

Used on the Westside Line and around the Jersey docks where horses may be present. Just hiding the side rods were enough to convince the flesh horses that iron horses weren’t a thread.

NYC nicknamed them “dummies” rebuilt from several E class 2-6-0 and I believe there were a few from LS&MS 0-4-0s. One diagram book I have lists 1902-1906 as Ed class.

Regards, Ed

8

Hmmm…That might be a fun project to kitbash/scratch-build sometime. [^o)]

Tom

9

I agree with you there [Y] and how about an inspection engine or two for good measure?

PLE_Insp-23 by Edmund, on Flickr

This one is P&LE but the New York Central had a few as well. I’ll bet it was a little toasty in there for those ladies in their wool garb and big hats!

Cheers, Ed

10

If you can track it down., check out the Railroad Prototype Cyclopedia #10 which has an article on the NYC’s container cars and LCL containers.

Dave Nelson