D&RGW's "Hi-Side" Gondolas! The amazing detailing found on these models is no accident. But words don't do them justice... You'll have to see 'em to believe 'em! We like to think of our models as "Scale Modeler's Models"... They're certainly much more than just "train models", Once you see them you'll see why. These Ready-to-Operate beauties will delight even the most critical modeler! All in "Sn3", of course... The Scale Modeler's Scale of Choice... From P-B-L, Naturally!

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~ Latest Revision: Thursday, December 27, 2018 ~

~ THE D&RGW "HIGH SIDE" GONDOLAS ! ~

Or: Not all Gons were "created equal"...

PLEASE NOTE:

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    Another year, another run of great new models from P-B-L... And true to form, we've created not just ONE version, we've created TWO DISTINCTIVLY DIFFERENT VERSIONS: Neither of which have ever been available previously...
    These versions are the "CARDWELL" version, and the "MINER" version... Both so named because of the brand of castings and parts used to create the drought gear (draft gear) on the real thing...
   Plus, to these we've added subtle variations that make them even more interesting... How's that, you say?
    Well, most students of "The Narrow Gauge" are aware that the High Side Gondolas suffered much abuse; From the weather, from old age, and from the notorious 'Rotary Car Dump" at Salida which inverted the cars in a sort of a "barrell" placing all kinds of stresses and strains on these old wooden cars that they were ill equipped to handle...
    And most folks realize that because of the above, the stake arrangements on many of these cars began to vary considerably from car to car, some "wearing" "split" or "spliced" stakes, and others not...     But only a few might be aware of the fact that, when these cars were first created they had cast iron "stake pockets", like almost all of the other cars of the period... These castings would invariably bear a "casting" or "pattern" number cast into them... Like this:
    But once again, time, the weather, and the rotary car dump placed stresses and strains beyond the design perimeters of these things... And these ornate castings began to be replaced with strap steel affairs that could better handle the wood swelling up and freezing in the winterime, and the banging and slamming around of the rotary dump apparatus...
    Things like this tend to go un-noticed by the masses, but nuts like us tend to get caught up in the details... Which, of course, is both a blessing and a curse...
    Anyhow, before this gets too out of hand, (if indeed it hasn't already...), suffice it to say that tooling has been created to reflect BOTH types of stakes... Plus RH and LH versions of the spliced stakes of each type so that our cars can be reckoned as true replicas (in miniature) of the real thing...

No less than FORTY different road numbers have been created, displaying four different shades of paint ! So scroll down for a look at the cars we received. Click on a small photo and you'll be treated to at least three enlarged views of that model. Occasionally more.

Click on the photo below for a close-up view showing the differences between the cast striker plates on the two gon versions... If you are into detail, like the ad says, you're going to like what you see! We guarantee it !

Each of these models is a faithful reproduction of its prototype, in miniature. They are equipped with GENUINE KADEE® Couplers, and our highly detailed, superb rolling D&RGW 3'-7" Arch Bar Trucks with their COINED, NICKEL PLATED BRASS Wheelsets... (For a close-up look click here ...)

Of course, we would like to see these models populating all of our customers layouts. But keep in mind that these are SCALE MODELS, not children's toys. As delivered, they are designed to be operated on 26" and larger radius curves. For operation on tighter radius curves, much of that beautiful brake rigging will likely have to be removed. Pity......

We produced "around" 50 of each of these models. Due to some circumstances beyond our control, it's possible that this could be our only run of these... If your railroad is hurting for FUNCTIONAL rolling stock, you might consider some of these. They're priced commensurate with their quality, and at that, if you value your modeling time as being worth ANYTHING AT ALL, these models are a bargain! Call or email NOW !

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