{"product_id":"o-mth-u-s-army-gondola-car-w-crates-30-72250","title":"O MTH U.S. Army Gondola Car w\/Crates 30-72250","description":"\u003ch2\u003eO MTH U.S. Army Gondola Car with Crates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdd authentic military freight operations to your O gauge layout with this \u003ca href='\\\"https:\/\/mpmhobbies.com\/collections\/o-rolling-stock\\\"' style='\\\"text-decoration:' underline\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S. Army Gondola Car\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e from MTH Electric Trains. This highly detailed RailKing freight car features three removable crates and authentic U.S. Army markings, perfect for recreating wartime or military transport operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout Gondola Cars\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn its customer Web site, the Union Pacific Railroad characterizes a gondola as an \"extremely sturdy open design\" for carrying \"rugged unfinished commodities\"; its \"large flat interior design with side walls\" is described as \"more flexible than a flat car.\" These qualities make the modern gondola particularly popular with the steel industry, for transportation of loose materials like scrap metal, waste, coke, and slag as well as finished products like iron or steel plate, pipe, structural steel, and rails for railroad track. Other commodities commonly shipped in these versatile cars include mineral ores, granite slabs, gravel, logs, lumber, railroad ties, and even prefabricated railroad track, also known as \"panel track.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUntil the advent of specialized coil cars in the 1960s, another popular load for gondolas was coiled sheet metal, usually steel, on its way from mills to manufacturers of stamped metal items from car parts to appliances. As depicted on this model, specialized covers — similar to the covers later used on dedicated coil cars — protected the raw metal from the elements during transit. Brackets on the covers provided a lifting point for an overhead crane and also allowed the covers to be stacked on top of each other when not in use.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHistorical Background\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe name \"gondola\" actually predates railroads. In the early 1800s, utilitarian flat-bottomed boats with low sides, used to transport coal down the Potomac River to the Washington D.C. area, were called gondolas as a spoof on the much fancier Venetian gondolas. Similarly shaped coal-carrying cars on early railroads earned the same moniker. As more specialized cars were invented for coal service, the gondola evolved into the general-purpose car it is today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntricately Detailed Durable ABS Body:\u003c\/strong\u003e High-quality construction for long-lasting operation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMetal Wheels and Axles:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth rolling performance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDie-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heavy-duty construction for reliable operation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOperating Die-Cast Metal Couplers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compatible with all O gauge equipment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColorful, Attractive Paint Schemes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Authentic U.S. Army livery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDecorative Brake Wheels:\u003c\/strong\u003e Authentic detailing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast-Angle Wheel Sets:\u003c\/strong\u003e Improved tracking and performance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeedle-Point Axles:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reduced friction for smooth operation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e(3) Removable Crates:\u003c\/strong\u003e Add realism with removable cargo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOperates On O-27 Curves:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compatible with tight-radius layouts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScale:\u003c\/strong\u003e O Gauge \/ O-27\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoad Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e U.S. Army\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnit Measures:\u003c\/strong\u003e 11 15\/16\\\" x 2 3\/16\\\" x 1 11\/16\\\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Curve:\u003c\/strong\u003e O-27\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eRailKing Quality\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHigh quality, traditionally sized RailKing Freight Cars provide detailed bodies and colorful paint schemes for the O Gauge railroader. MTH makes an enormous variety of RailKing Freight Cars, including many different car types and roadnames. No matter what era or part of the country you are modeling, RailKing is sure to have something for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExplore our complete selection of \u003ca href='\\\"https:\/\/mpmhobbies.com\/collections\/o-rolling-stock\\\"' style='\\\"text-decoration:' underline\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eO Rolling Stock\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e to expand your freight car roster.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor more information about MTH Electric Trains' complete range of O gauge locomotives and rolling stock, visit \u003ca href='\\\"https:\/\/mthtrains.com\/\\\"' style='\\\"text-decoration:' underline\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ehttps:\/\/mthtrains.com\/\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e to explore their full product catalog.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MTH Electric Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51715926655207,"sku":"MTH3072250","price":46.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/7798\/9095\/files\/MPM_1_46e99cde-53c4-4dd6-8bdd-5584d0485f34.jpg?v=1769314544","url":"https:\/\/mpmhobbies.com\/products\/o-mth-u-s-army-gondola-car-w-crates-30-72250","provider":"MPM Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}