Elvas Tower: “Hi side drop bottom gondolas” 756 and 793 - Elvas Tower

Class 17 25 ton “Hi side drop bottom gondolas” 756 and 793.
100 of these cars were built by the National Car Company in 1905 as “Low side gondolas” but looked somewhat different than what we are familiar with today. They had a very complicated bottom door opening mechanism with very long operating levers at each end of the car. These cars were called “Longhorns” because the operating levers extended approximately three feet above the ends of the car, and were shaped something like the horns of a Texas “Longhorn”.

In 1918 the door opening mechanism was replaced with the much simpler current system. In 1926 they were further modified to have steel center sills and end sills, and the unique wood needle beams seen today.

Many cars of this series have had an additional 6“ board added along the top of both sides and ends, with post extensions bolted to the original post. These are often called “Hi Sides” and the original cars called “Low Sides”

There are two 700 series “Hi side” cars in this package. 793 is an empty and 756 is loaded with coal. A couple of “Low side” cars will be released in the near future.

These cars were modeled from D&RGW plans from the Maxwell Collection and many of my own measurements and pictures. Most historical data is from Sloan's “A Century + Ten of D&RGW Narrow Gauge Freight Cars, 1871 to 1981”. Howard Saunders performed file and texture tweaking, all lettering, and initial testing. Herb Kelsey performed additional testing, and Tom Werb performed the final Beta testing. The screenie is courtesy of Howard Saunders

Enjoy, Bill

Original File Name = Weathered_700_s._9_May_09.zip