{"product_id":"athearn-ho-ath-36-low-side-gondola-w-drop-gates-drgw-852","title":"Athearn HO ATH 36' Low Side Gondola w\/ Drop Gates, DRGW #851","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eATHEARN 36' LOW SIDE DROP BOTTOM GONDOLA PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the close of the Civil War through the late 1920s, existed railroads with vast fleets of equipment servicing trackside customers smal to large. Because of the regional segmented nature of these stretches of railroad, designs were often similar but rarely the same. Athearn has created several new models that will capture the essence of these freight cars, with separately applied details and sharp decorations that are ready out of the box to be run on any railroad setting these models apart from craftsman kits and the “toy train” models that have previously been offered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMany railroads expanded on the design of the basic flat car to meet other needs. Wooden sideboards were added for extra carrying capacity. These early gondolas required teams of shovel-wielding workers to unload the contents in a laborious process. This standard gondola design was adapted with gates, or trap doors that allowed the bottom of the gondola to be open. A ratcheting crank located on the car sides would close these gates after being opened. Workers were still used to unload these cars, but now the contents could be shoveled to the open gates instead of lifted over the side of the car. The Athearn model shares the same feature as the flat car, but includes the low sides, ratchet detail, and gates of the drop-bottom gondola.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eATHEARN 36' LOW SIDE DROP BOTTOM GONDOLA FEATURES:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew metal 33” wheelsets representing cast iron wheels with face and backside detailing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLow-sided gondola extension\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFloor with molded gate detail\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRatcheting gate closure detail\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSimulated wood grain textures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparately applied metal grab irons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparately applied wire truss rods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed K-style air brakes and piping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoupler cut levers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e40-ton Andrews trucks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMcHenry Scale knuckle-spring couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeighted for optimal performance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e15” minimum radius\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Athearn","offers":[{"title":"ATH-3123","offer_id":67762286919850,"sku":"660132679248","price":57.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0770\/9324\/1002\/files\/43e68401-0fcd-403a-9d86-8c4ee65f9364_ATH-3123_A0_2EH1K0F9.jpg?v=1793109741","url":"https:\/\/shop.fastandfuntoyandhobby.com\/products\/athearn-ho-ath-36-low-side-gondola-w-drop-gates-drgw-852","provider":"Fast and Fun Toy and Hobby","version":"1.0","type":"link"}