G4 40 foot GS drop bottom gondola, Mineral Red

HO scale, with trucks and magnetic couplers. Six car numbers available. All steel drop bottom gondolas, like this InterMountain model, with doors hinged at the center and discharging their load outside the rails, were introduced by Pressed Steel Car Company in 1906. By 1910 the basic design had evolved to the 40 foot inside length with sixteen drop doors that would characterize such cars for decades. This design, known as General Service. was ARA/AAR car type GS and GN car type code G4. Drop bottom gondolas were the favorite type of car for transporting coal on many western railroads including the Great Northern. Most Great Northern coal originated at Superior for distribution to retail coal dealers in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Eastern Montana. They were also used to transport all manner of commodities such as: sand, gravel, sugar beets, and pulpwood logs. Great Northern was slow to adopt all steel drop bottom gondolas, making its first purchase of 250 cars in 1918. Purchases in 1922