PENN CENTRAL G47 GONDOLA FRUEHAUF 52'-6" STEEL & WOOD FLOOR GONS HO Scale
In 1971 Fruehauf built 1500 of these gondolas for the Penn Central. 1000 cars were ordered with steel floors and 500 with wood floors. These 52'-6" inside length cars were placed into the G47 class. Interestingly, the steel and wood floor cars were not separated into sub classes. The cars have fixed ends and were built with load anchors along the top rail. These gons saw many types of service, and were frequently damaged, especially the ends. Over the years, cars were repaired and had replacement ends installed. These ends were different than the originals, and in some cases two types of ends could be found on the same car. In 1976 the cars became part of the Conrail fleet. During the Conrail era, groups of these cars were fitted with coil steel troughs and classified as GBS. Many of these cars survive today and are operated by NS and CSX. Recently, Norfolk Southern has started rebuilding some ex-Conrail G47 gons into class GP28 gons. The cars are getting new ends panels and end side sheets. Cars are also receiving full NS repaints and reporting marks.
G47 B end detail
G47 underframe and brakes
Close up of Wood Floor
Conrail Wood Floor G47, Kit 105.4
G47 End Panels
Coil Steel Cradle
Kit 105 Contents showing optional wood floor and coil cradle
NS 616540, class GP28 seen in Enola, PA on September 16th, 2007. Kit 105.8
Click on the images above for a larger view.
The Rail Yard Models G47 features a single piece body casting with separate ends. The kit includes the three types of ends used so you can customize your cars to suit your era. (NS GP28 kits include the new GP28 rebuild ends) Each kit includes trucks with semi-scale 36" metal wheelsets, brake and underframe details, etched metal parts, weight and decals. (Conrail decals include "NYC" reporting marks for the post-Conrail modelers) Cars will accept most of the popular couplers available. Wood floor cars include a laser cut wood floor insert and cars for coil service will include a coil steel trough.
The G47 instructions are presented on a mini CD-ROM. These instructions contain 37 pages of step by step construction information with more than 70 color images. The color prototype history document has many full color images of these cars in PC, CR and NS paint as well as close-up detail photos.
Please note the price difference between the car kits. Wood floor and coil steel service cars are $39.95 Steel floor cars are $37.95.
