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

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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.

The original rail load that came with the car.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24124

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

4110cuft

Road Name:

Boston & Maine (BM)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1963

Road Number(s):

24124

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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These models were produced in 1963 and 1964, in three variations. These were the unpainted (molded-in color) lighter-blue version (common), the black shell that was painted a dark-blue (very rare), and the third variation is also painted in dark-blue, but has painted ladders.

The model in the background is the common version, while the one in the foreground is the rare version.

Holt repainted this model based on the prototype B&M car (there were about 300 of these 43-foot long cars re-built in their shops in 1957 from cars originally constructed during WWII, and lasted into the 1960s). Holt used dry transfers, decals, and a flat clear lacquer for a slightly weathered look.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Buffalo Hunt

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1963

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

The Buffalo Hunt gondola and the Freight Ahead caboose are the only two cars produced by Gilbert that did not have a catalog number. The Buffalo Hunt gondola was produced in 1963 only in only one variation. This unusual gondola was not sold separately and was offered only as part of the 1963 #20800 Game Train set.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

911

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1948

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

1000cuft

Road Name:

Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1955

Road Number(s):

911

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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The model came with the gray pipe load. A rare version with brown pipes can also be found. It was produced from 1955 through 1957 and has four variations. The first variation is painted black over either a black or a red plastic body. The word "PROGRESS" is in large letters (29/32" long). The second variation has a black painted body however, the word "PROGRESS" is in small letters (13/16" long). The third variation, shown in the photos, has a black plastic body with large "PROGRESS" lettering. The last variation, made in 1955, is thought to have come in the #5520 set. The car is painted black over a black plastic body it has large lettering and brown pipes.

Bill Winans converted his #911 to scale.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24109

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1948

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24109

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

Renowned collector and author Ted Hamler stated that official collector books list #24109 as having been produced in 1957. However, while the A.C. Gilbert catalog listed item #24109, the actual red and white box (labeled #24108 !) contained the #911 car. In 1957 Gilbert began using their new 5-digit numbering system that they assigned three numbers to each item for accounting purposes. For the C&O gondola, the three numbers were 24107, 24108, and 24109 depending on how it was to be sold/packaged. Starting in 1958 the C&O gondola first appeared with 24109 on the car that came in red and white box marked with #24109 on the end flaps. Of the five variations, the first variation, made in 1958, has yellow lettering and silver plastic pipes. The second variation was made in 1959 and 1960 and has yellow lettering and silver cardboard pipes. The third variation has yellow lettering and brown plastic pipes. The fourth has yellow lettering with orange cardboard pipes. The fifth variation has a black painted body, silver lettering, and silver plastic pipes.

This shows an example of the first variation mentioned above.

An example of the second variation, with silver cardboard pipes.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

916

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1942

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

4316cuft

Road Name:

Delaware & Hudson (DH)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1956

Road Number(s):

916

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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The model came with 5 "air-activated" less-than-carload containers. These were typically used for transporting dry cement. This model was offered in 1956 and 1957 and has two variations. One variation has capacity markings that read: "LT.WT. 52900" and "CU FT4316". The second variation has capacity markings as follows: "LT.WT. 52300" and "CU FT 4318".

Holt Apgar displays the original model in the background, with the foreground model being the one that Holt modified to match the prototype for these D&H cars as seen in the mid-1950s. Hold used decals by Highball Graphics and Microscale, as well as dry-transfer numbers by Model Graphics. Flat clear lacquer sealed everything and provided a slightly weathered appearance. The D&H used road numbers #15900 through 15914, and #15950 through 15969 for its 35 gondolas modified for cement canister duty.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24113

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1942

Length:

40'3"

Volume:

4318cuft

Road Name:

Delaware & Hudson (DH)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24113

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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The red body model came with 5 "air-activated" less-than-carload containers. These were typically used for transporting dry cement.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

641

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1949

Road Number(s):

641

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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These painted red models were produced through 1952. A rare unpainted (molded-in color) gray car was only made in 1951.

Finding Gondolas

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

fantasy: Fall S Fest

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1986

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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These were custom-painted remaining A.C. Gilbert bodies that were commissioned by the State-Line S Gaugers for their 1986 Fall S Fest. The load was included.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

fantasy: Fall S Fest

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1986

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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These were custom-painted remaining A.C. Gilbert bodies that were commissioned by the Badgerland S Gaugers for their 1986 Fall S Fest. The containers load was included.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24127

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

1848cuft

Road Name:

Monon (MON)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1961

Road Number(s):

24127

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

Produced from 1961 through 1965, in two variations. The first variation, which is not very common, has sintered-iron trucks and knuckle couplers. This variation may have been an early 1961 model as Gilbert may have been attempting to use old stock of sintered-iron trucks and couplers since 1961 was the first year of the new Pike-Master line. The second variation is the most common that has as Pike-Master trucks and couplers.

An example of the more common variation.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24131

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

New York, New Haven & Hartford (NH)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1961

Road Number(s):

24131

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

804

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1940

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

1765cuft

Road Name:

Norfolk & Western (N&W)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1956

Road Number(s):

804

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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The 800-series of A.C. Gilbert cars were only sold as part of lower-priced sets (most cataloged, some uncataloged), and not sold separately. They did not have operating couplers. They were manufactured in 1956 and 1957.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24103

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1940

Length:

41'6"

Volume:

1765cuft

Road Name:

Norfolk & Western (N&W)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24103

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Moled-in black body color that was only made in 1958. A version with Pike Master couplers was made in 1963 and 1964. Two painted variations were also made, though very rare, with either black or brown body colors.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

805

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

4318cuft

Road Name:

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1956

Road Number(s):

805

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

The 800-series of A.C. Gilbert cars were only sold as part of lower-priced sets (most cataloged, some uncataloged), and not sold separately. They did not have operating couplers. They were manufactured in 1956 and 1957. There are two variations of this PRR car. One is molded in tuscan-colored plastic and the other is painted tuscan.

Holt Apgar displays the original car in the background, and a repainted version in the foreground, which Holt lettered for the PRR G29 class and an appropriate road #359420 (mid-1950s tuscan red appearance).

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24106

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

40'3"

Volume:

4318cuft

Road Name:

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24106

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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This model was produced from 1958 through 1960 with an unpainted (molded-in color) red body. A rare painted red body color was also produced.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24110

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

4318cuft

Road Name:

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24110

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

This uncataloged gondola, made from 1958 through 1960, came in two variations; one variation is unpainted (molded-in color) tuscan plastic, while the second is tuscan-painted over a black plastic shell.

Bob Werre converted his to scale using wooden floor components, Permabilt ladders, Stewart and Liberty brake components, and Rex trucks. He also weathered it heavily.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24130

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1961

Road Number(s):

24130

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Made only in 1960, this model is unpainted (molded-in color) red body and Pike-Master couplers.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

620

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Southern Railway (SOU)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

620

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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This model came in two versions. One had the road name spelled out with evenly-spaced letters, and the other had uneven spacings.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

920

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1950

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

4000cuft

Road Name:

Southern Railway (SOU)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

920

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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This model was produced from 1953 through 1956, in three variations. The first variation has an unpainted (molded-in color) black plastic body. The second variation is painted black over either a black or a red plastic body. The third variation is also painted black except it is painted over a green plastic body. Like the #620, one had the road name spelled out with evenly-spaced letters near the top of the car, and the other had uneven spacings closer to the vertical center of the car.

This photo is an example of the first variation.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24116

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Southern Railway (SOU)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24116

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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The black car was made from 1958 through 1960.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

641

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1940

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

4000cuft

Road Name:

St. Louis-San Francisco (SLSF)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

641

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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After the 1952 #641 came the 1953 (only) version which was decorated for Frisco.

Finding Gondolas

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

941

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1940

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

4000cuft

Road Name:

St. Louis-San Francisco (SLSF)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

941

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:

This model was produced from 1953 through 1956, in five variations. The first has a flat finish that is painted over a black body with type 7 trucks. The second has a gloss tuscan finish that is painted over a black body. The third is painted tuscan over a white body with light blue lettering. The fourth is painted tuscan over a black plastic body with gray or silver-gray lettering. The last variation is painted over either a white or a clear plastic body and has white lettering.

This is an example of the last variation mentioned above.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24126

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Length:

42'9"

Volume:

1763cuft

Road Name:

St. Louis-San Francisco (SLSF)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1961

Road Number(s):

24126

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Supplemental:

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Notes:

Only made in 1961 in two variations. The common variation, shown in the background of the main photo, has a tuscan plastic body. The much more rare variation is painted tuscan over a tuscan plastic shell that is a bit lighter in color. The #24126 gondola, when sold as part of a set, came in a set box that contained a cutout in the insert to hold the car in place. The #24126 that was sold separately typically came in a red and white Pike-Master style box. The plastic variation came in a plain tan box with the number stamped on one end (see the third photo).

Shows the common version in the background, and the more rare version in the foreground.

Shows the common version on top, and the more rare version below it.

The tan-box version.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

631

Prototype Info

Style:

steel-sided

Year/Era:

1928

Length:

42'9"

Road Name:

Texas & Pacific (TP)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1946

Road Number(s):

631

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Supplemental:

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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

Supplemental:

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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

Supplemental:

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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:

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