A.C. Gilbert Erie Railroad (ERIE) Depressed-center Flat Cars
Model Manufacturer Info
Manufacturer:
A.C. Gilbert
Manufacturer ID:
936
Prototype Info
Style:
depressed-center
Year/Era:
1929
Length:
56'
Road Name:
Erie Railroad (ERIE)
Model Info
Gauge:
AF
Introduced:
1953
Road Number(s):
7210
Product Type:
metal
Finish:
painted and lettered
Wheels:
hi-rail
Couplers:
AF
Online Article:
Online Article:
Supplemental Part:
Supplemental Part:
Notes:
These cars were produced through 1956. This version has the attachment brackets, four on each side that are not there on #636. To secure the load, a thin metal wire is attached to the brackets across each end of the reel.
(image copyright © Ted Larson; used by permission)
(image copyright © Paul Heater; used by permission)
This is Paul Heater's first attempt at converting an A.C. Gilbert car into a "scale" freight car. Paul repainted both the car and the reel, and applied NWP decals. He replaced the tie-down wires with actual chain and attached them as they would in the real world. He also added wood cribbing to keep the load from shifting. Paul removed the exposed portions of the cast-on side steps, and replaced them with hand-formed wire steps. The trucks are American Models 6-wheeled tender trucks. He also replaced the couplers with those by American Models. Finally, he added and weathered the wooden decking, which is decking material sold by Micro-Mark for ship building.
(image copyright © A.C. Gilbert)
A scan from the 1953 catalog.