Gondola Recommendations

https://ogrforum.com/...t-car-guide-gondolas

Lionel has scale hoppers they are PS-5. look on the bay.

SPSF - thank you.  I knew this one had to be answered but my search fu is weak...

Hi Dave,

The PRR built much of its rolling stock in its own shops. When Atlas released its Trainman 50'6" gondola, Atlas said that it was based on a PRR design. Atlas has released at least two PRR paint schemes of this gondola: 0627-1, 0627-2, small letters, built 1-52 and 2002103-1, 2002103-2 large letters, built 8-51.

Allan

Everything I have heard about the Atlas O Trainman Gon says it was based on a Pennsy Prototype.

The original car was designed and released in the 80s by Atlas.     The scuttlebutt is that a guy named Ted Stepek did the design and layout for the 4 cars Atlas did in that era.    The gon, a 40 ft sliding dr boxcar, a 40 ft plugdoor boxcar and a modern caboose.    The Gon and the 40 ft sliding door car are supposed to be based on Pennsy cars.    The Plugdoor box is supposedly imaginary and the caboose has a modern prototype.     Ted Stepek was a train buddy with John Armstrong - a bit of trivia - and if you have John's track planning books, a layout in one of them is called the Schulkill Division and was a plan that Ted built.

If you model the 40s, you need the the "circle keystone" paint schems on Pennsy cars.    The shadow keystone started to appear about 1955.    the final scheme was just the initials and number was in the early 60s I think.

The new Atlas O car appears to have the identical superstructure to the Atlas car from the 80 but has a modernized underframe and trucks.     These cars work out quite well with a little weathering.

If you have shopping time you can often find these old gons at train shows for 10 or so but you have repaint and replace trucks and couplers.

IIRC the Pullman PS-5 gondola is too late for your era. The Atlas (formerly Weaver) 52'-6" War Emergency Gondola should be good for you. 

Atlas produced the Trainman Line war emergency gondola in the PENNSYLVANIA scheme recently. 

http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-otm52gondola.htm

Atlas O Trainman 52' 6" gondola 

http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-otm526gondola.htm

You might be able to find a few at Atlas O dealers.

You could make a reservation for the next round of gondolas.

Andrew 

Public Delivery Track has them. Beth is great to deal with...

I have several of the Weaver variants of these (N&W and C&O). These are very nice cars.

Thanks All.  I greatly appreciate the help.  I learned the hard way on paint schemes: I bought four Atlas O hoppers with the shadow keystone and then found an article that provided info on all of their paint schemes.  Duh...   I then stopped buying anything and spent a bunch of time reading to ensure I didn't make any other major mistakes.  Public Delivery has a bunch of stuff so they will be a big help.

Atlas also made a 40' composite gondola in PRR livery as part of their Steam Era Classics line. 

-Greg