Has anyone got any info on these cars, such as how many were made/still in service, whats the dimentions etc http://crcyc.railfan.net/crrs/gon/cr501317.jpg Thanks
OK, this might help & might not, it certainly doesn't answer any of your questions directly but might give you a lead on other sources... I've seen pics of similar cars with PRR & PC lettering, which I guess puts the build date of some of these as 1967 or before. They seem to have been used in unit iron ore trains from the great lakes (lake erie) south to the steelmill areas. There are at least two car heights, they look similar but ones taller than t'other. EDIT- This is visible in the picture you link to, the cars on either side are the shorter height ones AFAICT Bachmann ore car . Bachmann does/did an HO model in their silver series of a very similar car, see the link above. EDIT - comparing the Bachmann & CRCyc pics, they are not exactly the same prototype, different ribs etc. My guess would be on the Bachmann being modelled on an earlier build of the ore gons with a lower height & longer length? Just a guess mind HTH [ 24 April 2002, 10:44: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
<font color="336633">Yes the crcyc photo does seem very short, thats what intrested me in it, it looks shorter than normal ore gons. I have never accually seen those Bachmann gons b4, but then its not a make i tend to keep an eye on I guess I will be in future....
Ok. Ore from the Great Lakes area to the southern Steel Mills . I remember seeing them aplenty many years ago . I will see if my freinds in the Local Terminal can tell me any thing about them . The yard houses a lot of gondolas there may even be a few still in the yard. [ 24 April 2002, 18:15: Message edited by: Wolv_Cub ]
The Bachmann vesions are part of the "silver series" range, and there's some quite nice cars in that range, the 100t hopper is pretty good as well, my BN coal train has a bunch of those in it . They come with metal wheels and body mounted couplers, they seem to be about on a par with the new Athearn RTR (not genesis) cars.
Have it listed in PRR documentation as a PRR G39A. 1000 of the Ore jennies, Class G39A, were built in 1961. Height was 7'-2 5/16" Capy: 140000 GT 176400 LT (70 ton) Samuel Rea Shops in Altoona, Pa. also built another 1000 with newer trucks and better braking system. Some of them (110) had a foam insulation to prevent the load from freezing. ...Eddie [ 24 April 2002, 23:30: Message edited by: eddelozier ]
Alan, Not at home right now and don't have access to G39A measurements. Can get and reply later tonight. I'm guessing from memory at a size of 22' outside frame 17' + ?" inside **I have some interest in these cars do to the fact my Father who worked as a welder at Samuel Ray shops, may have helped build them? Here are some more internet ref. to both the G38 and the G39. G38/G39 ref1 G38/G39 ref2 ...Eddie
Alan, Found the length. I was close! Documentation only mentions the inside length to be 22' - 0. Height at 7' - 2 5/16". Pictures show it about the same height as a caboose roof. What does 2 5/16" look like in N-scale ? ..Eddie
Monk while I was driving by the yard in weirton west virginia i saw a couple of the gondolas you were looking for , as soon as i can get back there i will try and get you some photos for you they were numbered CR but i didnt have time and was way too tired to get the numbers but they are being used by a scrap yard there to move scrap metals around .
<font color="336633">Thanks Its good to see there are a few still about, some photos would be great </font>
