Big Four Gondola 1898 HO Scale

      This is an HO scale model of a Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis (Big Four) 80,000 pound capacity wood gondola that was first produced in 1898.  Some of them survived until the 1930’s.  The model was drawn using period drawings as well as builder and in-service photographs.

      The car features tapered posts, correct size and shape truss rod washers, floor bolts, under body detail, dead blocks, steel bolster, brake pawl, cast coupler pocket, as well as, holes for hand grabs, end support rods, brake staff, truss rods, and queen posts.  There are also holes ready to be tapped for 2-56 screws to mount the trucks and couplers.

     I recommend using 10” queen posts, .008 inch grabs irons, K-brakes, 5-0 wheel base arch bar trucks, although 5-6 wheel base trucks will work also, .010 inch end support rods, .015 inch brake staff, .013 inch fishing line for truss rods, and Kadee #158 whisker couplers.