A.C. Gilbert Lehigh & New England (LNE) Steel, Open-top, 2-bay, Offset Hoppers

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

632

Prototype Info

Style:

steel, open-top, 2-bay, offset

Year/Era:

1939

Road Name:

Lehigh & New England (LNE)

Model Info

Gauge:

Introduced:

1946

Road Number(s):

632

Product Type:

plastic or metal

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

Online Article:

More Photos

Supplemental Part:

Archer Transfer 3D resin rivets (the company recommends O-scale rivets for A.C.G. products)

Supplemental Part:

Archer Transfer 3D resin rivets #2 (the company recommends O-scale rivets for A.C.G. products)

Supplemental Part:

Coal Load Insert

Supplemental Part:

Gravel Load Insert

Notes:

There were a large number of variations produced of the #632 car. These were produced up through 1952.

In 1946 the black plastic LNE was produced with either diecast bearing journals or without (as found in lower-priced train sets). One variation had the red dot in the logo and the other did not. The illustration shown in the 1946 catalog shows a gray LNE car, but that variation is actually a bluish-gray and the body is made out of diecast metal. There were also two gray plastic-bodied cars released, one with the red dot and one without, and both had thick shank link couplers. The Virginian car came out in that year as well and has no number printed on it. The light-gray diecast metal car, which has diecast bearing journals was actually a repeat of the 1939-41 catalog #508 and K508 (kit version). This car also has four movable bay doors.

In 1947 a dark-gray plastic body version was released that has thick shank link couplers, and a red dot in the logo.

In 1948 there were two plastic body versions released, with one being light-gray and the other being dark-gray. Both had the red dot in the logo and both used link couplers with a brass weight.

From 1949 through 1952 there were two plastic body versions released, with one being light-gray and the other being dark-gray. Both had the red dot in the logo and both used link couplers.

In general, some cars came with weights on their trucks to help them track better.

This photo shows the common 1946 plastic version (many of these acetate bodies warped over time). It sits on a 1946 box, which has the words "Tru-Model" on it. The 1946 Virginian car sits on the later version of the boxes, which has the text "3/16" Scale" on it. In the front is the rather uncommon black version with the red dot in the logo. The other car is the bluish-gray car that was illustrated in the 1946 catalog.

This is the dark-gray version of the cars released from 1949 through 1952.