14-panel fixed-end 52'6" gons?

[nkalanaga]

I'm trying to replace my MTL gons with correct length ones.  Bluford has the 15-panel cars covered, in many cases in the same roadnames I want.

BLMA makes a 14-panel drop-end car, which does most of the rest.

However, I have one Southern Ry 14-panel car with fixed ends.  All of the SOU cars I can find pictures of are 14-panel, except for one series of 16-panel cars.  All seem to have fixed ends.

Does anyone make a 14-panel fixed-end 52'6" gon in N scale, or will I keep running the one I have?  I don't model the Southern, and have no industries that require such a gon, so it isn't a critical issue.

[bbussey]

Did you look at the assortment of TrainWorx gondolas?  All of them are 52'6".  The Atlas Evans gondola is 52'6", as is the new MTL RailGon gondola.  The Bachmann new gondola is the same prototype as the Bluford dented gondolas.  And the vintage Arnold Rapido composite side gondola I believe is 52'6".  I think that is it, other than the Bluford and BLMA cars you've mentioned.

[nkalanaga]

No, I haven't looked at the Bachmann car.  I'll check that one.  Thank you!

The Trainworx, Atlas, and new MTL cars are too modern, and these are all-steel cars, so the old Arnold Rapido car would be too old.

The Bluford cars would work, if they made one with fixed ends.

[nkalanaga]

I just looked at the Bachmann store, and all they list are drop-end cars.  Oh well.

Thank you for the suggestion, though.

[Jim Starbuck]

I think the older Roundhouse Models is a 14 panel. I don’t have one handy to check the length but I think they were 52’.

[bbussey]

Jim, I think the Athearn ex-MDC/Roundhouse car is based on the Thrall-built RailGon prototype.

[bbussey]

The Trainworx, Atlas, and new MTL cars are too modern, and these are all-steel cars, so the old Arnold Rapido car would be too old.

Trainworx does make the post—1960s cars with the stamped sides. But I could have sworn they also offered a transition era model with flat panels between the ribs.

EDIT — Trainworx does make a transition-era gondola with fixed ends, but the sides have 15 panels.

[bbussey]

Microsoft Copilot says there is no such model in N. However, I think you can kitbash what you seek by adding MTL or Trainworx ends to an Atlas ex-BLMA model, particularly if you are seeking to model one example of the SP prototype.

[Mark5]

I have one of these, unfortunately it is a foob (the real ones in this series were built by Greenville I think)

https://www.hobbylinc.com/trainworx-thrall-526-gondola-car-southern-railway-66546-n-scale-model-train-freight-car-2523509?srsltid=AfmBOoqoL0T6ZKKV2MZVJZ1gLATqjlg7kpCfwhihnaE5kWeRGz68wxgF

[Missaberoad]

Trainworx does make the post—1960s cars with the stamped sides. But I could have sworn they also offered a transition era model with flat panels between the ribs.

EDIT — Trainworx does make a transition-era gondola with fixed ends, but the sides have 15 panels.

@bbussey Thats a Thrall prototype dating from the 70s-80s with a few early examples being late 1960s.

[Spades]

Try Spookshow: https://www.spookshow.net/freight/freight.php?gondola=5&rtr=16&kit=17&plastic=18&brass=19&resin=20&metal=21&wood=22&sort1=3&sort2=2&sort3=4&compress=1&Submit=Submit

[nkalanaga]

Nope, nothing there.  I didn't think anyone made what I want, but there's always the possibility that I'd missed something.

I thought about using MTL ends on the BLMA car, but there's enough difference in height that it looks like more work than it's worth.

Oh well, it isn't like my customers are clamoring for this particular car.

Thank, everybody, for your suggestions.