Does anyone know the specific prototype of the MTH Premier Gondola? They look like nice cars for a 2 Rail project, but not able to trace what prototype they were based on.
Thanks in advance!
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They're all the same. You have two choices of gondolas in O scale: Weaver wartime gondola, or the 50 foot gondola. Atlas and MTH are both very similar. Lionel has a diecast ps-5 and K line also had a diecast gondola.
Early Atlas is probably the best for your money if you are doing a project.
I don't know the details, but I don't think they are all quite the same.
The early Atlas car which is the same body I think as the new Trainman car is a PRR prototype.
the Lionel PS-5 is also a 52 car I think, but a much more modern prototype and features drop ends. It has the more detail than the other I think.
Lionel also makes a 40 steel gon that I think is the same as the old AHM car from the 80s.
I have seen the MTH gons and I think they are a variation of the Atlas car. I don't think they are identical.
the Weaver War Emergency gon is a WWII era (relatively modern) gon built with a steel frame and wood planking sides. This one also has a drop end that works.
Atlas also has a 40 USRA gon that is WW I vintage steel frame wood plank sides. This is a very detailed car that Red Caboose originally developed the tooling for. You can still find the original Red Caboose kits at shows.
It all depends on how accurate you want your model to be. If you are freelancing, then any one is fine pick which you like best.
Didn't MTH make those drop bottom gons just a while back that were pretty decently clsoe to prototype?
Originally Posted by mwb:
Didn't MTH make those drop bottom gons just a while back that were pretty decently clsoe to prototype?
Yes, and that model is what came to my mind when I read the OP's question, i.e. which gondola?
The ones I have from Atlas, MTH and Lionel all seem to be based on a similar 52'6" gondola from the late forties early fifties. Gondolas come in various lengths and shape of the sides for different uses, i.e. mill gondolas and drop ends.
It would be nice for one of the big three to offer a new model instead of just a different paint job.
I would love to see a corrugated gondola and also a 65 footer. Notice the bottom is straight and doesn't taper for the trucks.
Originally Posted by SPSF:
.... a corrugated gondola....
Believe it's been done in brass, 
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by mwb:
Didn't MTH make those drop bottom gons just a while back that were pretty decently clsoe to prototype?
Yes, and that model is what came to my mind when I read the OP's question, i.e. which gondola?
Good to know that my memory has not quite evaporated yet. That might mean that there is more than 1 gon that's been made....
I suspect that there's more to this that just Atlas, MTH and Lionel, 
Originally Posted by mwb:
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by mwb:
Didn't MTH make those drop bottom gons just a while back that were pretty decently clsoe to prototype?
Yes, and that model is what came to my mind when I read the OP's question, i.e. which gondola?
Good to know that my memory has not quite evaporated yet. That might mean that there is more than 1 gon that's been made.... I suspect that there's more to this that just Atlas, MTH and Lionel,
I know I have at least two of the Weaver "drop-down end" composite gondolas, that are just beautiful. I have a scrap metal load in one of them from St Charles Model Works.
Thanks so much for the information so far. I have a pair of MTH ones coming which look to have an exPRR flavor with the ladders on one corner vs. grab irons on both corners. I have a pair of the original Atlas, two Trainman Atlas, and two Lionel PS 4s. Lionel are by far the easiest to convert to two rail. The original Atlas wasn't bad, but had to mill the bolder. The Trainman ones were the most frustrating as when I milled the bolster to the right height the screws that hold the under frame to the body are protruding and there is no solid place to mount the trucks without building everything up which I'll do eventually.
I am with Hot Water - I would have guessed the drop-bottoms. However, since then you have made it clear.
I think the definitive mill gon was the Atlas plastic - K-Line duplicated it in metal, but cheaped out on the underframe. Had they not done that, the K-Line would be the best for those of us who do not model in plastic.
The drop-bottoms can be fixed with brass center sill extensions quite easily, and make for an inexpensive way for SP fans to have appropriate gons.
Lionel are by far the easiest to convert to two rail.
Railthunder
Be prepaired for something easier yet. The more recent versions of the MTH 52' 6" gondola have underframes designed for Kadee mounting. No shims are required when using MTH 2 rail trucks. The MTH gon is a pretty good representation of the PRR G-28 and the many similar AAR gondolas of the late 1930s and 1940s.
All of the MTH GS gondolas are intended for easy Kadee mounting. Petersen has also had MTH make GS gons that came factory equipped with 2 rail trucks.
For more information on MTH and other O scale gondolas see:
https://ogrforum.com/t...t-car-guide-gondolas
