A.C. Gilbert Texas & Pacific (TP) Steel-sided Gondolas

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Notes:

The #631 gondola was produced from 1946 through 1953 and has six unpainted (used molded-in color) green variations and three green or red painted variations. There are two 1946 variations with thin shank link couplers both are dark green one has silver letter while the other has white lettering. The one 1947 variation has thick shank link couplers with a dark green body. The two 1948 variations have link couplers with brass weighted link couplers. One of the 1948 variations is dark green and the other is a very rare gray model. The last of the unpainted variations was produced from 1949 through 1952 that has a dark green body and link couplers with black link coupler weights. Two of the painted variations were produced from 1949 through 1952 that are painted dark green. One is painted dark green over a green body while the second is painted dark green over a red body. The last painted variation produced in 1952, shown in the main photo, is painted red over a cream plastic body.

The very rare 1948 gray version.

Finding Gondolas

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

931

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1928

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Texas & Pacific (TP)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1952

Road Number(s):

931

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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1953 A.C. Gilbert Catalog

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Notes:

There were five variations produced of this car. One variation came with riveted knuckle couplers, wide letter-spacing, and square body ends (early 1952, rare), one was a black body painted green which also used the wide letter-spacing and square body ends (later 1952). The most common variation (1953 through 1955) had the tighter letter-spacing with angled body ends.

Shown from front to back are the early 1952 variation, the later 1952 variation, and the common 1953 to 1955 variation.

Shows a close-up of the two variations of the ends of the cars, with the 1952 version on the left and the 1953 and later version on the right.

Shows the underside of the early-1952 model with riveted couplers on the left, and the 1953 and later model with crimped couplers on the right.

Finding Gondolas

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24120

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

1807cuft

Road Name:

Texas & Pacific (TP)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1960

Road Number(s):

24120

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

The uncataloged #24120, with very large letters, was offered in 1960 only, in three variations. The most common has a dark green plastic body with Pike-Master trucks and couplers. The second and third variations are very rare and are thought to be pre-production samples. The second variation is painted red over a cream plastic body. The third variation is painted yellow over a red-painted cream plastic body and this variation has black lettering.

An example of the most common variety.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

C2009

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Texas & Pacific (TP)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1962

Road Number(s):

C2009

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Supplemental:

Online Article:

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