I'm interested in the short height gondolas used primarily by the Seaboard. I see many versions on the Pennsy and figure those were for steel mill support but was interested in why they were so prevalent on the SAL. Mostly speaking about the 40-50 ft gondolas. Were they for easy unloading in a rural setting?
@FLG , the SAL deployed many of theirs in stump service as seen here. Pine stumps are resinous, so are valued for processing into turpentine and even flavorings and fragrances (aka aromatics). These were loaded in rural settings, but unloaded at chemical processing plants.
We had a company in my area, which loaded stumps 100 ton wood chip cars. Trucked in from a logging operation about an hour west of town. They went to an outfit in Minnesota, (name I have forgotten now), for processing. I recall plastics and cosmetics. These were were billed as "tree butts".
@FLG , I wish I had some photos for you, but all I can find in my slides is this SAL empty, taken 02/1986 at Montgomery, AL.
I attached two pictures. SBD gon is by Max Linder (http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=579044) and then an ESRR MW by Jason Underwood (http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=507866). Why so small?
