I believe the load you are remembering was a cable load made by the Okonite Company in Paterson New Jersey for a cable line on the west coast. The train was 13 Erie gons, and safety chains were welded between all of the cars. As you said, it wound in tight circles in each car and then continuously into the next. I remember it since Okonite was on the NYS&W and I model that plant on my layout (but not that train).
