Thinking of doing just what the topic says for a log train, since not all lumber railroads used skeleton cars. For anybody who has one of these cars, does it look like the superstructure can be removed easily enough? Or do the cars look too small and toy-like to be 36' scale cars? I'm hoping to be able to insert wooden poles into the side pockets to hold logs in place, like this:
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Have one in my hands. These MTH 19th Century pieces are essentially scale cars. Nice.
The car does measure a scale 34' (I just did it), beam to beam, not 36'. This 1/2 inch wouldn't bother me a bit - remember what you are modeling: logging.
(Don't measure the couplers - they don't in the real world.)
======= CORRECTION - maybe - to the ideas at the bottom of my post...
I looked at the car again, and I'm thinking that the entire "painted" portion above the
under frame (it's die-cast??) is one piece. The railings may not be pressed
into the deck. (Tool-and-die work is just so good these days.)
If the below is not true, use a Zona saw to carefully cut off the "railings" all
around the deck. Finish with fine files and sanding film.
====================
The "superstructure" of the gon is closely-spaced railings, glued or pressed into holes
on the frame. A screwdriver blade (as wide and thin as possible) slipped between the
bottom slat and the top of the car's deck, then gently twisted, near the posts, may loosen them.
This may take some patience. Nudge time. If you break the post off in the hole, it is not a tragedy.
You'll be painting (and weathering?) the car anyway, I'd guess - or at least painting the
deck for realism.
Weaver's flat car measures just a tad over 9", and the stake pockets are open.
Don
I forgot to mention that these flats are based on a 1910 model, so just a bit beyond your time era.
Don
Thanks for the ideas. I've actually been keeping an eye out for the Weaver 40' flats, but haven't seen any come up for sale in quite some time. Have any you'd like to part with? 
D500 - do I understand correctly that it looks like the walls of the gon are part of the same casting as the floor? That would complicate things, although I do plan on painting and weathering.
The Weaver wood side gondola is the flat car with sides inserted into the stake pockets, which can be removed making it another option for your log car project.
Don
Thanks for the ideas. I've actually been keeping an eye out for the Weaver 40' flats, but haven't seen any come up for sale in quite some time. Have any you'd like to part with?
Contact me via e mail, I may be able to help with one car. My e mail is my profile.
Don
The MTH 19th Century Railking Tank car is easy to convert to a flat car. Unscrew the bottom, pull out the steel weight and the tank comes off with 2 screws. Would need to add pockets to the side.
Lionel also made a postwar short flat with truss rods. It also needs pockets.
Dan
I just had a very close look at the gondola. I am pretty sure the entire body is a single plastic casting. The chassis is separate; you could use that under a scratchbuilt flat car, but the gondola body is what it is. I suppose you could cut the top off and drill holes in the stake pockets to mount stakes, but it wouldn't be easy. Loco-Dan's idea of converting a tank car might work better, if you can find tank cars at a reasonable price.
This is why this forum is so great - I don't have to buy one of these to find out I can't take it apart. Looks like it's back to Plan A: find Lionel, MTH, or Weaver 40'-41' flats at a price that I don't mind repainting them. Thanks for all your advice.
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