Micro-Trains - 15201 - Gondola, 32 Foot, High Side - Rio Grande - 1245

Model Information: Micro-Trains introduced a Nn3 narrow gauge range in 1988 that includes a 30' boxcar, a 30' gondola, a 30' flat car and a caboose. The models are re-run occasionally since then.

Prototype History: Between 1898 and 1906, the American Car & Foundry built 1,301 high side gondolas for the Rio Grande, 32ft long and with a capacity of 25 tons. They fell into 5 classes having slight differences in the height of their sides or the distance between their truck bolsters, and have been rebuilt in 1923 and 1926 by the D&RGW. They constituted the main body of the gondola fleet until the end of freight operations on the Rio Grande narrow gauge in 1968. These gondolas were often quite different from one another even among cars of the same class, because of the frequent rebuildings and repairs due to damage caused by the rotary car dump used in Salida to mechanically unload them.
High side gondolas #9200 to 9574 have been built between 1898 and 1902, 7 are conserved today on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, including #09410 now in the MOW fleet, and 2 other at the Colorado Railroad Museum.
In 1902, #1000 to 1399 have been built, then #1400 to 1499 the same year, originally as side dump gondolas. Thirteen of these cars are preserved on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, including two converted to open observation cars, 3 other are at the Georgetown Loop Railroad, 4 on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and #1423 at the Colorado Railroad Museum.
Numbers 1500 to 1899 have been built in 1903, 8 are now on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, one on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and another at the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
Finally in 1906, the last high side gondolas were built (#1900 to 1925), they have all been scrapped in the early fifties.

Road Name History: The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (reporting mark DRGW), often shortened to Rio Grande, D&RG or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870. It served mainly as a transcontinental bridge line between Denver, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 1988, the Rio Grande's parent corporation, Rio Grande Industries, purchased Southern Pacific Transportation Company, and as the result of a merger, the larger Southern Pacific Railroad name was chosen for identity. The Rio Grande operated as a separate division of the Southern Pacific, until that company was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad. Today, most former D&RGW main lines are owned and operated by the Union Pacific while several branch lines are now operated as heritage railways by various companies.

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.

Please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide