I discovered recently that I am the owner of an Athearn covered gon (forgot that I had purchsed it!) Looks like a regular gon, but has a removable roof/cover that looks like the top of a boxcar. Did these really exist, or are these a creation from the fertile imaginations at Athearn? If they did exist, what were they used for? Coil car wannabes? Bulk loads that need to be kept dry like sand? I'd like to use the car as is, but if it's not a real beast I can just use the gon and lose the top. Thanks!
As I recall (and someone will correct me if I'm wrong), it is a slightly too short model of a Southern Prototype. Yes, covered gons did exist and I have heard what they were used for, but just don't remember right now. I have one, too and I will keep it on the railroad.
You hit the nail on the head with "coil car wannabes". These were used for handling sheet steel before the design of "coil cars". The idea was the same, keep moisture off the steel.
