[SDIV Tim]

About 2 years ago, I started an excursion train program with the locos I own that are still in operation. I have 1225, 611 and 4449. 1218 is apart of this program as a what if it was restored. I currently have 8 NS cars, 7 SP cars and 7 “private cars” which are one of certain railroads.

Now I would like to attempt to make short line open air cars. Most railroads use Gondolas like the Reading and Blue Mountain Northern and Roaring Camp, Santa Cruz beach train and skunk train. My question is has anyone done these before? How did you do it? What would be the best car to use?

A video has been provided showing one method that has been done but I would like to see if anyone has done anything else.

Thanks

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[T-Man]

I got one for you. I had to retake pictures since it takes me back to my pre sd card use. I may have it under attachments but those are impossible to search. The thread when I bought the gondola was a yard sale find with plenty of cat hair.

I went with a side view like a grand stands and used coffee stirrers.

The top is painted paper with the edges cut with a special pair of scissors.

 

[Lehigh74]

Here’s one on the Colebrookdale. I believe this is a gondola with the sides removed from the frame. For modeling this one, would be easier to start with a flat car.

 

[Krieglok]

I worked for a few tourist lines and everyone had different open air cars.

One line had what we called the “Zulu” car. It was an old PRR P70 coach that was gutted out, all the windows removed and enlarged. It also had a AstroTurf floor. They had safety bars across the window openings. It bounced like crazy as it went down the tracks due to all the weight that was removed in the conversion process. The picture is the interior of the Zulu car...

Another railroad I worked for actually used a six axle depressed center flat car with railings all around and stairs installed in the depressed center. Seating consisted of five picnic tables. It was probably one the heaviest cars around as it had a cast frame...

Tom

 

[jay jay]

Back in the 1950s, the Illini Railroad Club sponsored a number of mainline steam excursions out of Chicago, in which the last car of the train was always an open gondola full of railfans with their cameras. I remember seeing that in some of the Green Frog videos that featured the films of Emery Gulash. I couldn't believe it. There was no way to get in or out of the gondola when the train was moving, and they were just stuffed in there, cheek by jowl. What if you had to use the facilities? Holy mackerel.

 

[Krieglok]

I have seen old NRHS movies like that. The days before lawyers!

When the trains stopped for runbys, people would be all over the tracks and the locomotives.

A good time to be alive...lol

Tom