A gondola is an open-topped railcar used for transporting loose bulk materials. Because of their low side walls, gondolas are also suitable for the carriage of such high-density cargoes as steel plates or coils, or of bulky items such as prefabricated sections of rail track. Gondolas are distinct from hopper cars in that they do not have doors on their floor to empty cargo.
The DRGW roster information below has not been updated since 1999 by Jim Eager. If you know of the current deposition of a car listed below or you spot missing, inaccurate data, have model suggestion or a picture for any Rio Grande boxcar we'd love to see & hear about it. Contact the RGM&HS webmaster at: rgmhswebmaster@rgmhs.org
Gondolas 1887 – 1959
| Series | Lbs | Type | I L | CuFt | Bldr | Blt - | Yr | Ret | Commodity | Design | Notes |
| 15000-15199 | 60 | GK | 30-00 | 869 | PCC | - | 1887 | 1923 | Coal | Wood, truss rod, outside stakes | |
| 15200-15699 | 60 | GK | 30-00 | 869 | MCC/PCC? | - | 1888 | 1923 | Coal | Wood, truss rod, outside stakes | |
| 15700-15736 | 60 | GK | 30-00 | 869 | PCC? | - | 1890 | 1923 | Coal | Wood, truss rod, outside stakes | |
| 15737-15987 | 60 | GK | 32-05 | 858 | OFC | 1889= | 1897 | <1926 | Coal | Wood, truss rod | Ex-RGW 500-800 |
| 16000-16250 | 80 | GK | 36-01 | 1326 | OFC | 8- | 1899 | Rblt | Coal | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes | |
| 16251-16258 | 80 | GK | 36-02 | 1326 | ? | < | 1905 | Rblt | Coal | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes | |
| 16000-16258 Rbld | 80 | GDS | 35-07 | 1700 | Rblt | - | 1926 | <1946 | Sugar Beets | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes, racks, side dump | |
| 16300-16376 | 80 | GAS | 34-06 | 2258 | Rblt | - | 1937 | 1948 | Sugar Beets | Wood, SCS, inside stakes, bottom dump, racks | Ex-26000-26474 |
| 17000-17099 | 80 | GK | 36-01 | 1349 | D&RG? | - | 1902 | Rblt | Coal | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes | |
| 17000-17099 Rbld | 80 | GDS | 35-06 | 1735 | Rblt | - | 1926 | <1933 | Sugar Beets | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes, racks, side dump | |
| 17100-17171 | 80 | GK | 35-07 | 1494 | DRG | - | 1906? | <1933 | Coal | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes | 1 car 9/29 |
| 17172-17185 | 80 | GK | 35-07 | 1494 | RGW? | - | 1906? | <1937 | Coal | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes | Ex-RGW 1001-1014, 1 car 7-37 |
| 17186 | 80 | GD | 37-00 | 1464 | RGW? | - | <1926 | Coal | Wood, truss rod, side dump | Ex-RGW 1201 | |
| 17187-17195 | 30 | GB | 27-09 | 497 | ? | - | <1917 | Wood | Ex-SPV 21022-22484 | ||
| 17196-17199 | 30 | GB | 31-04 | 609 | ? | - | <1917 | Wood | Ex-SPV 500-503 | ||
| 17400-17494Cnvtd | 80 | GB | 38-01 | 1476 | PSC | 4- | 1901 | RE# | Coal, Gen Serv | SUF, fishbelly sill, wood deck & sides added | Ex-RGW 201-300; to 20900's <1929 |
| 17419 Rbld | 80 | GB | 38-01 | 1007 | Rblt | < | 1926 | Rblt | Clay | SUF, fishbelly sill, wood | Ex-17400 flat |
| 17500-17999 | 80 | GK | 35-07 | 1362 | ACF L1930 | 3- | 1902 | Rblt | Coal | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes | |
| 17500-17999 | 80 | GDS | 35-00 | 1800 | Rblt | - | 1926 | <1946 | Sugar beets | Wood, truss rod, inside stakes, racks, side dump | |
| 18000-18035 | 60 | GA | 25-06 | 969 | PCC | - | 1890 | <1913 | Coal, Ore | Wood, hopper bottom, outside stakes | |
| 18036-18059 | 60 | GAC | 25-06 | 969* | PCC | - | 1890 | <1913 | Coke | Wood, hopper bottom, outside stakes, racks | |
| 18100-18198 | 80 | GA | 36-00 | 1476 | PSC | 5- | 1901 | Rblt | Coal | Steel, 2 bottom hoppers | Ex-RGW 801-900 |
| 18100-18198 Rbld | 80 | GB | 36-00 | 1351 | Rblt | 12- | 1926 | 1946 | Coal | Steel, hoppers removed | |
| 20000-20338 Rbld | 60 | GK | 31-00 | 1890 | Rblt | < | 1905 | <1926 | Coal, Cinders | Wood, truss rod, wood sides added | |
| 21000-21249 Cnvtd | 100 | GB | 40-00 | - - - - | Convtd | 11- | 1909 | <1954 | Coal | Steel, *10 stake pockets, side boards added | |
| 024000-024019 | 60 | GD | 34-03 | 1903 | DRG | - | 1903 | <1929 | Cinders | Wood, truss rod, side dump, inside stakes | |
| 024020-024029 | 60 | GD | 34-03 | 1903 | DRG | - | 1906 | <1929 | Cinders | Wood, truss rod, side dump, inside stakes | |
| 25000-25149 2nd | 60 | GD | 34-06 | 890 | ACF? | - | 1902 | <1926 | Ballast | Wood, truss rod, side dump, Rodgers Hart design | |
| 25200-25699 | 100 | GE | 40-00 | 1212* | ACF L8283 | 9- | 1917 | 1955 | Ballast, Coal | SUF, side/bottom dump, Hart convertable design, *1599cuft | |
| 25900-25999 | 80 | GS | 36-06 | 1630 | Rblt | - | 1926 | 1947 | Coal | SUF, bottom dump, racks removed | Ex-26750-26999 |
| 26000-26474 | 80 | GS | 34-06 | 1224 | ACF L2541 | - | 1903 | Rblt | Ballast, Ore, Coal | SCS, bottom dump, inside stakes, National design | |
| 26000-26474 Rbld | 80 | GC | 34-06 | 1902 | Rblt | < | 1937 | <1946 | Ballast, Coal | Rblt with taller sides | |
| 26475-26749 | 80 | GC | 34-06 | 2985 | ACF L2541 | 4- | 1903 | 1956 | Coke, Ballast | SCS, bottom dump, inside stakes, racks, National design | |
| 26750-26999 | 80 | GC | 36-06 | 3250 | ACF L4448 | 2- | 1907 | <1946 | Coke, Coal | SUF, bottom dump, inside stakes, racks, National design | 100 cars to 25900-25999 in 1926 |
| 27000-27499 | 80 | GA | 36-00 | 1296 | ACF | 10- | 1903 | <1954 | Coal | Wood, truss rods, bottom dump, inside stakes | |
| 28000-28199 | 100 | GA/GB* | 40-00 | 1500 | ACF L4557 | 9- | 1907 | <1951 | Coal, Gen Serv | SUF, fishbelly sill, composite sides, bottom dump | *some Rblt w/solid floor |
| 28200-28499 | 100 | GA/GB* | 40-00 | 1500 | ACF L4557 | 9- | 1907 | <1951 | Coal, Gen Serv | SUF, fishbelly sill, composite, bottom dump | Ex-RGW 5000-5299 |
| 28385 Rbld | 100 | GD | 40-00 | 1500 | Rblt | - | 1943 | 1955 | Feldspar | Rblt w/Side doors | |
| 28405,28446 Rbld | 100 | GD | 40-00 | 1500 | Rblt | - | 1943 | 1952 | Feldspar | Rblt w/Side doors | |
| 29000-29124 | 100 | GS | 22-00 | 895 | ACF L4483 | 11- | 1906 | <1951 | Copper Ore | SUF, composite, National design | |
| 29125-29249 | 100 | GS | 22-00 | 895 | ACF L4483 | 12- | 1906 | 1954 | Copper Ore | SUF, composite, National design | Ex-RGW 4000-4124 |
| 29800-29824 | 60 | GC | 36-06 | 2333 | ? | < | 1913 | <1926 | Coke | Wood, truss rod, racks | |
| 29900-29931 | 60 | GC | 31-06 | 1608 | ? | < | 1913 | <1926 | Coke | Wood, truss rod, racks | |
| 30000-30049 2nd | 154 | GB | 65-00 | 1763 | PSC | 12- | 1939 | Steel Prdcts | 17 rib, riv, drop end, Duryea uf | ||
| 30050-30099 2nd | 154 | GB | 65-00 | 1777 | PSC | 3- | 1944 | 1947 | Steel Prdcts | 17 rib, riv, drop end | Defense Plant Corp, to ARR 5-47 |
| 30050-30099 3rd | 154 | GB | 65-06 | 1777 | PSC | 10=11- | 1948 | Steel Prdcts | 19 rib, riv, drop end, AAR design | ||
| 30100-30149 2nd | 154 | GB | 65-06 | 1777 | BSC | 12- | 1949 | Steel Prdcts | 25 rib, riv, drop end | ||
| 40000-40999 | 100 | GS | 36-00 | 1400* | PSC | 1=2- | 1908 | Coal | Steel, outside stakes, *sides extended 10 inches, increased to 1688 cuft | ||
| 41000-42500 | 100 | GS | 36-00 | 1400* | PSC | - | 1909 | Coal | Steel, outside stakes, *sides extended 10 inches, increased to 1688 cuft | ||
| 43000-43349 | 100 | GS | 40-00 | 1750 | PSC | -12= | 1913 | Coal | Steel, outside stakes | ||
| 43350-43629 | 100 | GS | 40-00 | 1658 | WSCF | - | 1913 | Coal | Steel, inside stakes | Ex-D&SL 34001-34300 in 1947 | |
| 45000-45499 | 110 | GS | 42-00 | 2100 | PSC | 3=4- | 1926 | Coal | Steel, inside stakes | ||
| 46000-46499 | 100 | GS | 42-09 | 2100 | PSC | -1947= | 1948 | Coal | 7 rib, riv, ID 4 ends, *Duryea u.f. | ||
| 46500-46999 | 100 | GS | 42-09 | 2100 | PSC | - | 1948 | Coal | 7 rib, riv, *AAR 4 ends, *Duryea u.f. | ||
| 47000-47499 | 100 | GS | 42-09 | 2100 | PSC | - | 1949 | Coal | 7 rib, riv, *AAR 4 ends | ||
| 50000-50449 | 100 | GB | 41-06 | 1840 | MVC | 10- | 1943 | 1947 | Steel Prdcts | 10 rib, riv, *AAR 4 ends | Defense Plant Corp, to ARR 6-47 |
| 55000-55249 | 154 | GB | 52-06 | 1745 | PS | 12- | 1948 | Gen/Asgn Serv* | 13 rib, riv, PS end 3 | Some GBS for Coil Steel | |
| 55250-55449 | 154 | GB | 52-06 | 1745 | PS | - | 1949 | Gen/Asgn Serv* | 13 rib, riv, PS end 3 | Some GBS for Coil Steel | |
| 70000-70699 | 140 | GS | 46-03 | 2400 | WSCF | 4=5- | 1922 | Coal | Steel, inside stakes | ||
| 71000-71999 | 154 | GS | 46-00 | 2340 | PSC | 2- | 1943 | Coal, Stone | 7 rib composite, 5 AAR ends, Duryea u.f, some cars Rblt w/steel siding begining 1949 | ||
| 72000-73699 | 154 | GS | 46-00 | 2410 | GATC | -1953= | 1954 | Coal, Stone | 7 ribs, 5 ID ends | ||
| 80000-80299 | 140 | GS | 46-03 | 2400 | RE# | -1956= | 1957 | Stone | Steel, inside stakes | Ex-70000-70699 | |
| 83000-83090 | 100 | GB | 40-00 | 1715 | Rblt | - | 1948 | 1956 | Pig Iron | Steel, *solid plate steel floor added | Ex-43000-43349 |
| 85000-85007 | 100 | GB | 40-00 | 1715 | Rblt | - | 1948 | 1951 | Pig Iron | Steel, *solid plate steel floor added | Ex-43000-43349 |
KEY:
| Lbs | Weight capacity in lbs x 1,000 |
| Type | AAR car type code (i.e. XM = boxcar, etc |
| IL | Interior Length or tank |
| Bldr | ACF = American Car & Foundry; BSC = Bethlehem Steel Car; CSCC = Chicago Steel Car Co.; GATC = General American Transportation Co.; H&B; = Haskell & Barker; IC&E; = Illinois Car & Equipment; KCSS = Kansas City Structural Steel; LCC = Litchfield Car Co; MPC = Michigan-Peninsular Car; MC&F; = Missouri Car & Foundry; MCW = Michgan Car Works; MVC = Mt. Vernon Car (PSC); OFC = Ohio Falls Car; PAC = Pennsylvania Car; PCC = Peninsular Car Co.; PSC = Pressed Steel Car; PS = Pullman-Standard; PUL = Pullman; SSC = Standard Steel Car; W&F; = Wells & French; WSCF = Western Steel Car & Foundry (PSC) |
| Date-Yr | Month and Year built |
| Ret | Last year class was listed in ORER |
| Commodity | Most commonly shipped |
| Design | General design features: YSD=Youngstown Sliding Door, YPD=Youngstown Plug Door; YPDX=Youngstown Plug Door Exterior Post; PPD=Pullman " Plug Door; SPD4=Superior Plug Door; ID=Improved Dreadnaught ends, cush=cushioned underframe, Duryea=Duryea cush u.f., FS=ACF Freight Saver cush u.f., Waugh=Waugh cush u.f., EOC=end of car cushioning |
| Notes | General notes |
