Gondola Car
What is gondola car?
Contrary to popular impression, not all railroad cars are the same. A gondola car is just one instance of a freight car that has its own specialty, and therefore its own look. Typically, gondola rail cars feature low walls and open tops, and are best for carrying bulky or dense material. A gondola car has low sides and a flat bottom, much like the original gondola boats. The cargo was usually pushed toward the side of the car, ready to be carted off elsewhere.
Not long after the solution of dropping cargo was changed, the height of the sides of some cars was changed, as well. A gondola car with level sides is fittingly called a high side gondola, and can be requested by the customer if the loading requirements necessitate it. Additionally, there are now some gondola train cars that are covered, particularly to protect expensive cargo from inclement weather. The two types are typically easy to spot, since one has side hinges and the other has them only on the bottom.
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