New Lionel 52' Gondola w/Coils

NS1975, thanks for posting the pics. They look good on your layout. I liked them in the catalog and ordered all of them. I am still waiting for mine to come. Thanks Paul 2

Have a J waiting for me at my parents house. 

I was able to get the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton gondola with steel coils.

I will get a pair of Chicago South Shore gondolas with coils later this week.

Andrew

Here are photos of the Chicago South Shore gondolas with coil loads.

Andrew

After attempting to run them at the front of a train of heavy Atlas O and Lionel PS-2-CD 4427 covered hoppers, the couplers kept popping open moving up a slight grade. 

I had to put all of these gondolas at the end of the train because of the couplers popping open.

Andrew

Andrew,

Having the same issue with my EJ&E cars. 

Couplers look to be plastic. Relegated to the rear of the consist now. Expected more for the price.

Joe

I have not run mine in a freight yet so that is good to know about the couplers. The steel coils are very light. Has anyone glued them dowm so they don't move and if you did what glue or adhesive did you use. Thanks Paul 2

I got the URR gon. I thought they were cheaply made. Nothing like the other scale gons  from before. No wood floor.. very light cheap plastic.. They should be half the price for the cheapness. I am done with Lionel.  

One of the C&O Chessie System gondolas has couplers that will stay closed under the load of heavy Atlas O and Lionel cars. 

One of the couplers on a new Bartlett Grain PS-2-CD covered hoppers also pops open under too much pressure from a heavy train. 

I wonder if the couplers need to worked open and closed more times. Perhaps excess material is in part of the coupler.

Andrew

RATTLER21, thanks. I have some 3 in1adhesive from scenic express. Would that work the same as Rubber Cement. Plus I do not want to damage the p[aint on the gondolas..................Paul 2

I got the two numbers of DTI.  but i have not open them yet.

I replace the trucks on all of my scale cars with the original trucks they offered with sliding uncoupler lever (thumbtackless).

The other gripe i have is these gons originally came with added weight plates under the floor.  They discontinued these plates in the gons made over last few years...  so i kerp my eyes open for old gons for cheap to get these parts from!  I upgrade my gons with the old GOOD parts.  Thats just how i roll...

DOC Thom,

My feelings exactly.   Joe

DOC posted:

I got the URR gon. I thought they were cheaply made. Nothing like the other scale gons  from before. No wood floor.. very light cheap plastic.. They should be half the price for the cheapness. I am done with Lionel.  

Yep. You are paying for the name.

Very disappointing, I had planned on picking up two SS and two J gon's

Oh well, I'll wait until they show up on the secondary market for half of MSRP.

Tom