52’-6” “Greenville Gondola” for Rock Island

In November 1957, the Rock Island built their first group of 450 cars of the ‘cloned Greenville Gon”, a design that evolved from the original 1940 A.M.C. design, in their own shops using ‘kit’s supplied by Pullman-Standard, who at the same time was building these cars for the FRISCO under P-S Lot 5943.  (see PC-3610 for a model of FRISCO’s car). These received road numbers as Series 1300-1749, and had a 1-3/8” hardwood floor.  The shop continued building an additional 50 cars at the same time, as Series 1750-1799, but with Nailable Steel floors.

Eight years later, the RI ordered 100 more cars of the same design directly from Pullman-Standard under Lot 8356B, again with the 1-3/8” hardwood floor, and assigned Series 2400-2499.  All three groups of cars, 600 in all, received the Pullman Patented ends which had a newer, larger and straighter rib pattern, and was very distinctive.  Protocraft received copies of drawings for the Pullman car from the Pullman Library, which Boo Rim used to build these cars to a very exact model.  The early series, 1300-1749, used the same components and we believe that this is the correct model for this series also.  Consequently decals and lettering for both series would be correct.

Besides the Pullman Patented drop ends, the cars used the Equipco Lever hand brake and the more modern Morton brake step, Wine door locks, Wine Lading tie down roping rods welded to the top of the side, and 16 interior folding stake pockets (vs the usual 28), plus the normal 1-1/4” chamfered rope/cable holes in the top chord.

Cars were painted with the Rock Island’s freight car maroon with 18” block lettering in white stencil paste.

Decals for this car are available from Protocraft Decals