AM gondolas

Posted byTrevorPosted inLayouts I have designed or built, Niagara St Catharines & Toronto Railway in 1:64, Other S scale equipment, S Scale Equipment
The NS&T served a lot of heavy industry in the Niagara Peninsula, so gondolas are essential for any model of this railway.

A few months ago I decided I needed more gondolas for my interpretation of the Niagara St. Catharines & Toronto Railway. The challenge is, there aren’t a lot of gondola models produced in 1:64. That said, one of the most commonly available models is from American Models – and it’s ready-to-run. I checked the AM website and ordered three with road names likely to appear in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula.

Most of the work on these models involved weathering – with particular attention paid to the floors.

I’d heard mixed reviews of these models but overall I think they look the part. I added train line air hoses, upgraded the wheels, and installed Kadee couplers. I could’ve done more, but I’m happy with their overall appearance. Mostly, they required some weathering to bring out the details – plus some work on the floors to make them look more like wood.

A few quick detail improvements did wonders for these RTR models.

At some point, I’ll come up with some removable loads for them – but in the meantime, I’m pleased I’ve been able to add some variety to the rolling stock on this layout.

Published by Trevor

Lifelong model railway enthusiast and retired amateur shepherd who trained a border collie to work sheep. Professional writer and editor, with some podcasting and Internet TV presenting work thrown in for good measure.