Arrowhead Models HO 1225-1 Greenville 2494 Railgon Gondola, Chicago And North Western #350291

Among the family of ex-Railgon gondolas, the CNW fleet was unique in that they adopted a program of only partially repainting their cars. The black areas of the original Railgon car body were repainted black (for the most part). While, the yellow areas of the Railgon paint scheme were not repainted. The result was a stark black and yellow paint scheme that smacks of a US Steel-inspired/Pittsburg-esque heavy industry – which, although not likely intented, was an aesthetic meet for their service assignments.

In 1988, the CNW acquired 400 GONX gondolas from Railgon, Co. They were commonly in heavy mill and scrap steel service. According to the late Ira Kulbersh, the Chief Mechanical Engineer for the CNW, the ex-Railgon cars were recognized as the “Battleships” of the CNW gondola fleet, and these cars remained on the CNW roster through the UP merger.

Once under the ownership of the UP, there was no broad program to repaint this series or give these cars new reporting marks and road numbers. As such, the CNW paint schemes are characteristic of the fleet through the end of their UP service lives. The UP began retiring CNW ex-Railgon cars en masse in 2011; although some cars have lasted years beyond that time.

Features:
81 wire parts per car, including: grab irons, pull loops, tie downs, coupler cut bars, air reservoir plumbing, retaining valve lines, release valve rods, brake rod and brake lever hangers, and side post tie downs
34 etched brass parts per car, including: side sheets, floor, end stiffener plates, retaining valve bracket, air reservoir brackets, ABD valve bracket, brake pulley brackets and pulley mounts, brake step and inferior and superior cross-member gussets
Comprehensive paint scheme
Brass side sheets
Accurate cross sections for I-beam and C-channel cross members, all of which are separately applied
Code 88 (0.088″) “Fine-Scale” CNC machined metal wheelsets and metal axles
“Scale” draft box and details, including: key, shank and full bolt detail
Accurately shaped and located air hose bracket, and outboard brake levers
Kadee #156 whisker couplers