If you come across a gondola moving within a train do not be surprised if its sides are bowed outwards from all of the heavy use it has experienced over the years.
Likewise, the car in its most basic form is rarely ever maintained more than required to keep it in service. This usually means that as long as the bearings, truck assemblies, knuckle couplers, air-hoses, and other basic over-the-road equipment functions as intended little more is ever done. However, gons are also one of the most versatile of railroad cars used for everything from carrying junk and scrap metal to new rails, steel coils, and other commodities.
Found this public domain image of unloading coal at Unloading Coal at Heart Mountain Relocation Center, 9/15/1942
Coal in gons? This is an amazing site that I found looking for examples. Many of these are from my old stomping grounds. Note the 13th photo and comments: Old, and not so old, Abandoned Coal Mines
Interesting! You are from southern Illinois? I live in the Chicago suburbs having moved to Illinois in the 80s. I had no idea there were coal mines in southern illinois.
Those are fascinating links. Thanks for sharing. I guess there are so many ways to model this thing. When I saw the 109 fuselages I thought, “Must do.” Then I calmed down, realized what I would be getting myself into, and went back to look for ammo boxes… It makes me wonder about a captured gondola repurposed. Maybe a gondola that transported coal or manganese now being used for shuffling ammo back and forth to the front? Too many possibilities I guess.
The recent tornadoes didn’t hit near you did they?
I am from western Kentucky but went to school in southern Illinois, SIU-C in the early 80s. Coal was big in s. ILL Some of the strikes lead to some of the bloodier episodes in our history, like The 1922 Herrin Massacre.
The Bf 109s in the gons I had never seen before. I’ve seen them on flatcars. I also saw a photo of gondolas hauling Panther turrets! Yup, gons are very versatile.
Your 1/72nd scale figure painting is amazing Erik, I certainly find it inspirational, , though I don’t for one minute ever imagine coming close…but it gives me an incentive when things don’t go quite to plan, .
Slow progress with the groundwork, beginning to think I should have gone with my countryside level crossing idea, less tedious scribing, and more ‘flocking’ fun, .
So thought I’d give an update, I didn’t like my first attempt at scribing (see below), it was a bit too rough-and-ready, also the edging stones to the quay were too rounded where vertical/horizontal surfaces met, so needed to square them off more, .
So I sanded it smooth again and decided to start elsewhere and work my way back around to the offending corner.
So below are some images of cobbles that I think look acceptable size-wise, . I have also finished blending the recess for the escape ladder in to the rest of the quay wall, and have filled between the tracks so that just the rails show.
The colour is just rough, more that I can see what it’s looking like, and the 1/72nd Cromwell is just to give a sense of scale, it won’t be used on this base, .
If there are any ‘cobble’ experts out there please feel free to offer advice/criticism, doing a small area in 1/35th scale is completely different, and much easier, than a large area (in any scale), .
I’m chiming in late on this thread, but would love to do a military/railroad related diorama. Over in the AFV category someone put up pictures from the early 70s that showed all types of armored vehicles being loaded onto flatcars; something I did when I was stationed in Germany from ‘85-‘87 with the 1st AD.
The flatcars looked very similar to the ones the Germans used and available in plastic from Dragon etc. I’m curious if they are the same knowing how long tail equipment can stay in service. Thought about an M60A1 with a dozer blade being loaded onto a flat car.
Fred, maybe it was me you were referring to as the railroad worker ? I work for the LIRR….
Hi Metalhead, some of those WW2 cars did soldier on in civilian rail use well into the 1990s, so they may have been! (But of course a lot of new flatcars were made since, so you’d need to look in detail to be sure…)
The alterations are very good G. I have to take my hat hat for that scribed stonework, it is so good. The ladder recess is also a great part of it as are the steps going down. Well thought out footprint.
That base colour on the stonework is good start… It already has that old, wet mold look going for it…
Yes I will have to investigate further. I had no idea what type of flat cars we were loading our vehicles onto as an 18 year old, I’m 54 now lol but I do have pictures that I took of the railhead in general and will dig them out to see if I can identify those flat cars. Would be great to be able to use one of Dragon models flat cars in my stash with my M60 to do a diorama but I doubt it.
Wow ! Those are some excellent pics Fred! Just what I was looking for. I noticed a few different types of flat cars in those photos. I’ll have to check that Ssy flat car that I have and compare it. Some appear to be in the German equivalent of “Tuscan Red” or is that dust? Some appear to be a dark gray color, very interesting.
Can’t believe Germany was still using steam engines in 1971. I think the LIRR ran them til 1955, not sure.
, though I don’t for one minute ever imagine coming close…but it gives me an incentive when things don’t go quite to plan, 
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) but I recall that the Bundeswehr heavy duty flatcars of today are essentially the same ones from WW2.
