We have been contacted by a manufacturer looking for data info on DRGW 52'6" mill gondolas. Preferably the orange scheme with black lettering. Any help locating applicable road numbers and artwork or good clear photos would help.
Heck thats one full car! Is this not the ex MDC Roundhouse Gondola? I have one in this scheme. Does this manufacturer start with an "A" George?
D&RGW orange mill gons There were three different styles, the 56275-56334, 56340-56374, and 56135-56274 series had 14 ribs and the 56375-56424 had 13 ribs. Also, the 56135-56274 were slightly taller. None are exact matches to the MDC mill gon as they both had slight fish belly sides and different ends. Pages 73 and 74 of Jim Eagers' Rio Grande Color Guide has some photos.
The Walthers "kit" 53' mill gondola is close to one class of orange Thralls (perhaps 56275-56334) but I don't have my Walthers model out to make the direct comparison. The ends match one class but the difference is in the spacing of the center two ribs - the model has a wider spacing but the prototype is evenly spaced. Close though, and I have my Walthers a close "stand-in". The MDC gon matches D&RGW #310355 from Rail Gon series 310017-350241, naturally. The Walthers 65' mill gon is an exact match for Rio Grande series #30800-30824. Athearns newer 65' mill gon is close to a series of fishbelly 65' footers but not exact. I bought one as a stand-in. I would be happy to see a new HO model gondola that would match any of Rio Grandes mill gons! FYI, of the HO gondola's, most are painted in bogus road names, but I have identified a few exact matches from some prototype articles. For example, the E&C Shops 52' corregated gondola is a perfect match to MP and repainted successor UP prototypes. Walthers kit 52 gondola is an exact match to a class of 99 Southern Pacific gons. Articles had a hard time finding exact matches to the Walthers corregated 52' gon or the E&C 52' smooth side gon.
Contact the RGMHS My suggestion would be to contact the Rio Grande Modeling and Historical Society. http://rgmhs.drgw.org/ They might be able to get you more correct information. Thanks Paul H. LIddiard member #1144
Thanks guys. I'm unable to confirm or deny the possibility of any specific manufacturer being the one who contacted us.
