Bluford Shops N Scale Burlington Northern #558203 52'6" Lightly Dented Gondola

Different road number may be pictured.

This month, Bluford Shops is happy to announce our second group of N scale Factory Dented 52’6” Mill Gondolas. As with the first group (currently in production) these models feature diecast floors for superior tracking and plastic sides, ends, draft gear, body bolsters and additional brake gear. The cars come standard with our metal wheels and magnetically operating knuckle couplers.

The Lightly Dented versions have multiple deflections in the side sheets above the floor line. The Medium Dented versions have the side sheets visibly puffed outward between the rivet lines as countless small dings to the inside faces accumulated and stretched the sheets into rough domes. The Heavily Dented versions also have the puffed out panels but to a greater extent – plus many of the ribs have also been deflected outward. The concave dent detail on the inside faces matches the convex outside faces.

Car ends and brake equipment vary based on prototype. Interiors have a rust effect finish. Each road name will be available in 6 road numbers – 2 each of lightly dented, medium dented and heavily dented versions.

Burlington Northern inherited this fleet of mill gons from predecessor Chicago Burlington & Quincy. We present them here in the original Cascade Green paint scheme with the large BN “wrenches” logos, ACI tags and 2-box format consolidated stencils. The cars were equipped with fixed Dreadnaught ends, Ajax brake housings and IP80 brakewheels. 

Detroit Toledo & Ironton took delivery of this group of gondolas in 1957 from Pullman Standard. DT&I opted for the narrower style ribs such as those used by Greenville and other builders rather than Pullman’s new wider ribs. However, Pullman fixed ends were used. These cars also used Ajax brakes with IP80 brakewheels.

Erie was the first railroad to adopt this design of mill gondola, developing it in cooperation with Greenville Steel Car in 1940. Ironically, this 800 car batch came not from Greenville but from Bethlehem over the winter of 1946-1947. Like Erie’s earlier batches, these came with Dreadnaught drop ends and lever action hand brakes.

Louisville & Nashville inherited this fleet of gondolas in the split of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois between L&N and Missouri Pacific. Since the portion of the line going to MP would continue to be known as Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Louisville & Nashville quickly repainted most of their portion of the C&EI freight car fleet. These cars had fixed Dreadnaught ends and Ajax IP80 brakewheels.

Missouri-Kansas-Texas took delivery of this group of mill gons from Greenville in 1967 as part of President John W. Barriger’s effort to update Katy’s freight car fleet. The gons, including their roller bearing trucks, were painted Barriger Red (formerly known as Deramus Red) and equipped with fixed Dreadnaught ends and the familiar combination of Ajax brake housing and IP80 brakewheels. No, the MKT cars are not the same color as the L&N cars above. The MKT cars are more red. It's just a trick of the afternoon light.

When Norfolk & Western acquired the Nickel Plate Road through merger in 1964, a considerable fleet of mill gondolas came with them. N&W had already adopted the “Hamburger” N&W logo and began applying them to the NKP gon fleet as they came due for repainting and renumbering. During this period, only gondolas received this wonky version of the NORFOLK AND WESTERN billboard lettering (note the strange R’s, K and S.)  This group of gons had fixed Carbuilders ends with Ajax brake housings and IP80 brakewheels.

Pere Marquette took delivery of this batch of gondolas from Greenville in 1944. PM served the Chicago-Detroit-Buffalo corridor and the heavy industry therein and later became the Pere Marquette District of the Chesapeake & Ohio. These gons were equipped with Dreadnaught style drop ends and lever action handbrakes.

Western Pacific greatly increased their steel business during the Second World War when large steel mills opened on the east end of the railroad in Utah. This particular batch of mill gons was built by Greenville in 1949 equipped with Dreadnaught drop ends and Ajax 3059 side mounted brakewheels. About 50 of these cars were still in revenue service at the time of the merger with Union Pacific.

Wabash built this group of mill gondolas in their own Decatur Shops in 1954 using Dreadnaught drop ends and lever action handbrakes. The last of these cars still wearing this paint scheme was retired by Wabash successor Norfolk Southern at the end of 1990.