Some more goodies courtesy of SLI

[tarrant75]

Earlier this week saw the release of the Berwick 60' Auto Box cars. Tonight we have released the 50' Thrall coal gondolas.
http://www.streamlines.ca/MSTS_freightcars.html

[westerngy]

Check out the file library here for Matt Doti and he did the ATSF ones a few years back.

[SouthwestChief]

Check out the file library here for Matt Doti and he did the ATSF ones a few years back.

Yep. Thus far my only freight car build for MSTS to date. Look for files sfgndla.zip (non weathered cars) and sfgndlw.zip (weathered cars)

SLI's new gondola set are Thrall products. Nice looking models by the way.

The ATSF gondolas (GA-152) that are in the number series of the SLI cars were actually built by Transco and looked a little different. They were built specifically for the Kaiser unit coal trains. These being such an odd prototype is one reason why I made them for MSTS. Unfortunately I lost my original source files so I can never modify them unless I start again from scratch. Good thing they are still in the file library.

The SLI model is a typical compromise in the model train world. The Thrall car has been made by many and uses one or two of the Santa Fe paint schemes applied to the Transco gons. But I'm not sure if any model train company has ever made a proper Transco ATSF gondola.

Just a little comparison shots (SLI on top, my version below). Pretty similar gondolas, Thrall and Transco.

[TrainSimulations]

Matt,

Very interesting observations, I guess sometimes even the model manufacturers can fool us into thinking one prototype is right when it isn't. I found the initial Kaiser coal train info here if anyone wants to check it out:

http://utahrails.net/utahcoal/kaiser.php

The SLI DRGW Green River route (in development) will certainly be a good place to run these trains, which is one of the reasons why I built the cars, other than just liking the design. Looks like the DRGW and UP versions were actually Thrall products, at least according the Utah Rails article.

I thought I would have to wing the 3d model design, due to a lack of decent technical drawings, until I happened upon some drawings here:

http://www.djj.com/whatwedo/Flat%20Bottom%20Gon.pdf

Cheers,
Jason Dilworth (SLI)

[SouthwestChief]

The Green River route sounds like a really good one. Looking forward to its release.