Lionel's ubiquitous cannisters

Google is your friend, this article should answer all of your questions: Gondola with cannisters

(Link provided instead of actual photos to prevent copyright issues)

Finally after all these years and dozens of cannisters, I know. Thanks

Me too! I always though it was simply an artistic liberty!

George

And now we know the rest of the story! (With respect to the late Paul Harvey)

I'd never seen them in real life either.  They seemed realistic to me, though.  I never suspected they didn't exist.  The Aerial Launcher balloon cars Lionel came up with are a different story.....

Somebody, maybe Athearn, made them in HO also. I added real wire lift straps, painted and decaled these.

Thank you @RickO, I never knew there was a prototype for those!