Very recently I received from Bill Gilbert this beautiful gondola.

This model won second place at a NMRA regional meet in 1975! As per below. In his letter Bill mentioned that first prize went to a scratch built OO diesel, I’d guess most likely one by Ed Costello, perhaps one seen in this post on his layout, which was featured in RMC in 1979.

Backing up, I first corresponded with Bill way back when I was in high school, and I’d point out this article as one to also look at, on the flat car he gave me as a graduation present. Which I still operate often.

This gondola is, honestly, better detailed than anything I’ve ever built myself and worthy of a closer look. This type of gondola was never produced in OO. It’s all wood with just a few metal details and, of course, Schorr trucks and Kadee couplers.

One of the few commercial OO scale details on the car are the Scale-Craft ladders, seen above. Also of note in the close up photo is the ultra nice lettering job, and the silver paint on the “air hose” ends.

The ends also have the S-C ladders (unfortunately not very visible due to my lighting) and the ribs on the ends are wood, not commercial. This view shows the load too, which is not currently in the car as originally intended. I can see in the dust inside how it would have been originally, with just a few boards underneath the big I beams, and the beams standing upright. I will repair that damage.

The bottom shows some of the best detail work. Note the air lines and brake rigging. These details are not visible in operation (which is part of why I have not added those details on any model I can think of), and they really set the model apart.

It is great to see a model such as this, so nicely made and of a type hardly seen at all in OO. Very happy to give this car a new home and add it to the operating fleet.