Pennsylvania Railroad G28 Gondola in HO

 

I recently completed the pilot model for my latest kit, the Pennsylvania Railroad G28 gondola (prototype details can be found via this link.) I am biased, but I think it is one of my finest yet.

Plate C produced some exceptional 70-ton National Malleable Type B trucks to match the prototype's.

I finished it to represent a one year old repaint circa 1952, so the weathering was minimal. I added sparing amounts of Tamiya Brown Panel Line Accent Color at all of the structural members on the side. It is hard to capture photographically, but the effect is convincing. I am especially happy with the Universal lever-type hand brake, the underframe and brake arrangement, and the board-by-board floor inside the car. I did mess up one thing: I installed the drop end doors reversed (the outside should be inside) and don't have the heart to tear things apart, so cut me a little slack on that.

 

The chalkmark decals are from National Scale Car, set D135.

70-ton National Type B and B-1 Trucks from Plate C

Plate C National Malleable Type B 70-ton Truck

Plate C Model Prototypes is set to release 70-ton versions of the National Malleable Type B and B-1 trucks in HO scale. This is (to my knowledge) the first time these have been available in HO and perhaps, any scale. The fact that we will have both of these available is fantastic. The visual differences in HO are quite small. The B-1 incorporated updated trunnions that modified the arrangement (and appearance) of the spring package. The easiest way to discern the Type B from the Type B-1 is that the spring in the Type B "filled" the area below the bolster while on the B-1 you could "see" around the front spring and the B-1 also had a raised area around the small circles at the bottom of the sideframe casting, presumably for added strength. Again, subtle, but noticeable. IYKYK. These will be available from 3D Central

Plate C National Malleable Type B-1 70-ton Truck (directly above and below)

National Malleable Type B 70-ton trucks, known applications

Road	Series Start	Series End	Class	Type	Notes
ACL	739200	739299	U-7	Covered Hopper	Phosphate
ACY	515	539		Covered Hopper	equipped with Timken roller bearings
ATSF	170925	170974	GA-55	Gondola	AAR 65'
ATSF	86200	86499	GA-56	Hopper	Hart Ballast
ATSF	86500	86799	GA-59	Hopper	Hart Ballast
ATSF	77000	77399	GA-64	Hopper	Hart Ballast
ATSF	91142	91191	FT-U	Flat	60'
DMIR	4950	4959		Covered Hopper
DOWX	38123C			Tank
CB&Q	180000	180099	HC-1	Covered Hopper
C&IM	7350	7449		Gondola	Offset sides
CN	118000	118999		Hopper
CN	142050	142749		Gondola	48'
PRR			G26	Gondola	65'
PRR			G26A	Gondola	65'
PRR	344815	345182	G27	Gondola
PRR	342600	343549	G28	Gondola
PRR	357854	358653	G29	Gondola
PRR	see link	see link	G30	Gondola	Emergency; http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=G30
PRR	254451	254550	H30	Covered Hopper	slightly different sideframe
PRR	254951	255026	H30	Covered Hopper

Santa Fe GA-55 AAR 65'6" mill gondola (Athearn)

Canadian National 48-foot mill gondola (Westerfield)

PRR H30 covered hopper; note that the left truck has the "early" teardrop shaped openings in the sideframe. It was not uncommon for cars and their trucks to become "separated" during shoppings of like cars. There are many examples of PFE reefers with two different prototypes of trucks under the same car. (Bowser, Funaro & Camerlengo, Rail Shop)

PRR G26 65'6" mill gondola (E&B Valley/Eastern Car Works - accuracy issues!)

Dow Chemical insulated tank car (no known kit although a Resin Car Works kit could likely be modified)

PRR G28 52'6" mill gondola (Speedwitch, F&C)

National Malleable Type B-1 70-ton trucks, known applications

Road	Series Start	Series End	Class	Type	Notes
ATSF	169700	169899	GA-63	Gondola	Emergency
CB&Q	180200	180249	HC-1	Covered Hopper
D&TS	2028	2077		Covered Hopper
Erie	11150	11249		Gondola	Greenville design
NKP	91000	91049		Covered Hopper
NSS	1300			Gondola
PRR	see link	see link	G30	Gondola	Emergency; http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=G30
T&NO	4200	4449		Hopper
WP	6501	6600		Gondola	Greenville design
CB&Q	221500	221749		Hopper	Ballast; Emergency

Santa Fe GA-63 Emergency mill gondola (Tichy)

Burlington Hart ballast hopper (no known models)

Western Pacific Greenville-design 52'6" mill gondola (Proto 2000/Walthers, Sunshine Models)

All additions and edits are welcome. Please submitvia the comment form below!

PS - I apologize again for the watermarks in the images but I am tired of the pirates

Norfolk & Western S-1a 0-8-0 number 231

 

Portsmouth, Ohio, November 15, 1958, Charles Judy photo

This post is not really related to anything in particular except my love of small-drivered steam. This is an original slide that I snagged on ebay for a very reasonable price. It also scratched my itch for these types of steamers. The S-1a class was the last group of steam locomotives built at N&W's famed Roanoke shops, with 45 constructed between 1951 and 1953 (nos. 200-244.) They were short-lived, being retired between 1958 and 1960. Enjoy!