Jim, That looks like a composite general-service gon to me...8 panels on the side, side posts dropping below the side sheathing, many more drop doors than a USRA car. -John Hile

At one point I tried to find unmodified (or least modified) 40' USRA cars still listed in the 1/53 ORER with composite sides. Below are my notes... ACL 99300-99443, 141 cars GM&O 12200-12374 most

To combine two messages, the 'old message' of the Life photo of the Rock Island yard in 1946 includes a great photo of the interior of a RI(?) USRA composite drop bottom gondola. It's in the

Brian, These trucks sounds very interesting to me, however, I do not have Vol. 4 of the SP Frt Car Series. I do have Vols. 1 and 3...are the trucks featured in either of these books? Thanks, -John

I had about 21 old messages, dating back to January...perhaps the mods missed approving messages that got held? They didn't look like messages I had already gotten. Tim Barney SUVCWORR@...

Yes, I did and they included messages I posted. Rich Orr

F&C routinely offers most of their cars 2 for 1 at shows except their most recent releases. Discounts on Atlas cars depends on how much of a discount you want. Typical discounts are 15% to 20%. If

Thank you Rich!  That implies 24 ft to outside of the end of body sill plate. Al Kresse

WOW I posted this over 3 months ago and it showed up today. Rich Orr

I just received them also, on a Roadrunner acount. Rick Dietrichson

Norfolk Southern had 44 out of 150 copies in 7/50, but they were on their way out by then.

Brian, This is the reason why you don't want your messages to be Moderated: they may wait a LONG TIME for approval. All of those messages were moderated, and were

Actually, it doesn't. Fluid-tight joints must be "caulked" or "fullered" by hitting the exposed edge with a chisel to force a lip of metal into the underlying plate. The compressive load over a

Ed, I believe the book you are referencing was reprinted by George R. Cockle in 1974. The original book came from Mr. Alfred Gorney. It was dated December 31, 1938, with revisions up to June 30,

No good news here, Mark. Almost all of the USRA composite gondolas were rebuilt or scrapped by the end of WW II. Minneapolis & St. Louis had some refurbished ex-L&N cars, some of which lasted

I received them too, on an earthlink account. Jeff White Tim O'Connor wrote:

The L&N's USRA composite gons ran into the 1950's with the only change being AB brakes. They also built 1000 near copies of this car equipped w/cast side frame trucks and lacking the flat diagonal

Looks like a Yahoo hiccup to me -- you both have @yahoo.com email addresses. Tim O'Connor

My earlier message about the InterMountain car was answered and now wonder if any cars of this model ran on other roads. Thought maybe a new paint job could get this to the fifties! Hopeful thinking

I received them too? Mark Morgan