A.C. Gilbert Bethlehem Steel (BSLX) Steel-sided Gondolas

A.C. Gilbert

24125

steel-sided

1948

42'9"

Bethlehem Steel (BSLX)

AF

1960

24125

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

General A.C. Gilbert Gondola Notes

Has Photos

B.T.S. Wood Flooring (part #02601)

Replacement Pipe Brackets

Replacement Pipe Brackets

Replacement Pipe Brackets with Tie-down Wires

This car was manufactured through 1966. Greenberg's collectors book states that they were only made through 1964, but noted author and collector Ted Hamler has documentation showing that they were produced through 1966. The most common variations consist of three made in 1961 through 1966, all of which have Pike-Master couplers and trucks. All three have light-gray plastic bodies. One variation has maroon, orange, or red lettering. The second has red lettering that starts in the far left panel. The third light gray plastic gondola with red lettering that is double stamped on one side. The remaining two variations all are much more rare. Both of these come with four 7-5/8"-long metal rail loads supported by two metal brackets. The first, which was produced in 1961 as shown in the foreground of the first photo, has Pike-Master couplers and trucks, which is painted gray over a medium gray body. The second made in 1960 is painted gray over a black plastic body and has sintered-iron trucks with operating knuckle couplers. With this car the rail load is often lost and individuals have been know to replace the rail load with non-original rails by using rails from straight track. The second photo, which shows the original rail that came with the car from the factory, shows the rails used in track sections have two crimps near the end of the rail section that are used to hold the connecting pin in place. The original rails as produced at the Gilbert factory do not have the two crimps in the rails. The 1960 cars that were packaged for separate sale came in Kleer-Pak cartons all of which were painted gray with knuckle couplers.