I wonder if trainmen did walk through empty gons (or even loaded ones).

I think the most common inside height of 40 ft. gons was 4'8". I wonder how many men could lift themselves up over the end, especially if the train is moving.

I am a little taller than average and worked out with weights for many years. I entered weight lifting contests and once did 35 chin ups. At my most efficient weight I would have had difficulty getting over the end of a gon.

Stepping into a gon loaded with scrap metal could be treacherous if you slipped. Trying to walk on a load that could shift could be dangerous too.

In photos Lehigh Valley steam era trains have rows of empty gons. Erie fast freights don't have any gons or hoppers.