Bill's acknowledgment confirms my original point, that true mill gondolas (the term tends to be applied loosely to any gondola beyond the common 40' kind) are narrower than standard freight cars, and that is something that makes them stand out in a consist, in addition to their length.My understanding for the narrower width is partly to negotiate clearances but also because of typical loads, which tended to be very heavy for their volume (e.g., steel rod and beams), so that if they were loaded full width, the loading gage could compromise their structural integrity.
Jace Kahn General Manager Ceres & Canisteo RR Co./Champlain County Traction Co. To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 20:20:36 -0700 Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Mill Gondolas (was PRR G26 Completed [2 Attachments] [Attachment(s) from scale S only included below] Hi Pieter and all -- A long time ago I bashed a 70 foot gondola from two AM gons based upon a Lehigh Valley 70 foot car, though I made no attempt to duplicate it. Mine has the standard width and ends as opposed to the LV car’s narrow width and drop ends. Otherwise, it is pretty close, having the same number of panels, I think. However, it was purpose built for the SLE&P and that oversize pipe load, and is its own “prototype.” (photo) Going one step further, I took the remnants from the bash and made a heavy duty gondola with no prototype whatsoever, but fun just the same. You will note the owner... The company has changed the name, so the sloppy “steels” will be replaced with “metals”, in a more Karnes like alignment. (photo) Not really part of the conversation, but of interest, is the bulkhead flat to the left of the big gon. I cut down the number of panels on the bulkhead’s structure to the apparently more common 4 rather than the 5 that the car had when it came from SHS. This is based upon a D&RGW car’s photo, though I have a couple of photos of other roads with that configuration too. It fits in with the mid 50s era cars much better now that it is modified. Bill Winans -------------------------------- Hello Jace; Bill imported a small run of those gondolas in brass some years ago via Pennsy S Models. The only other 65ft mill gons sold in S are older wood and card models from Wisconsin Central, maybe Sunshine, and Lehigh Valley models. Dick Karnes had an article in an early Dispatch on splicing two AF gons. I began a similar conversion, and narrowed the car to correct width, but the rib count didn't match any known prototype. Attachment(s) from scale S only 2 of 2 Photo(s) 002_edited-1.JPG 001_edited-1.JPG
