AD&N Woodchip Gondola

[Tad]

The prototype.

My version.

I used a Dimi Trains sugarbeet gondola. I know it is not exactly the same car, but I didn't think I could find a closer one without scratch building the whole thing. Maybe one of these days.

 

[2-8-2]

Very nicely done! :thumb:

There's a good tutorial in the November issue of Railroad Model Craftsman Magazine on how to do something very similar.

 

[CalFlash]

Does anyone know if these were acquired from the Missouri Pacific? I know that some were.

 

[Tad]

Thanks.

The gondolas were not acquired from the MoPac. The AD&N had some of them as far back as 1914.


In 1977 The AD&N acquired 75 of these cars from the Missouri Pacific.

 

[2slim]

Tad
Looks good enough for my eyeballs man! Those ex-mopac hoppers sure have a different look to them, don't look like they would be too hard to kitbash either. Got a question, picked up a HO AD&N box from Athearn for a friends layout, it's the modern car with the white door. Noticed on the MicroTrains N boxcar there is a green diagonal stripe on the door, but the HO Athearn doesn't have it. Was there some significance to the stripe? I know some roads painted the doors yellow on cars assigned for lumber service, is that what it means?

Todd (2slim)

 

[Tad]

Hey, Todd.

Thanks.

The green diagonal stripe means the car is only supposed to be used for paper loading.
Without the stripe = no restrictions.

 

[ross31r]

WTF????

Did the MoPac just weld a gondola on top of the hoppers or something? that looks extremely weird - i want ten!!!!

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Nice work Tad!

 

[CalFlash]

My friend built one of the MP extended side hoppers years ago from an article I believe in RMJ. Burl Rice http://burlrice.com/TC200/index.php makes resin castings in HO to make a different but somewhat similiar car.

 

[TomPM]

Awesome job on the gons, Tad!

 

[Tad]

Thanks, Tyson & Tom.

I still need to make a woodchip load for the gondola. In the era I am modeling, the gondolas were used for intra terminal loading from the plywood mill to the paper mill and were being replaced by the hopper cars. I plan on having a couple of each dedicated to this service for my AD&N layout. I don't know how much real overlap there was, but I think I'll be okay using them like that.

There is an article on how to build one of these hoppers in HO in the March 1981 Model Railroader using an MDC offset side hopper. The article was by Terry A. Holley. The same thing could be done in N using an MDC hopper. Building two or three of them is one of my future projects.


Most of the original hoppers in this series were built between 1948 and 1950 for the Missouri Pacific by American Car & Foundry. The Missouri Pacific converted them to woodchip cars in 1959.