Micro-Trains - 063 50 029 - Gondola, 50 Foot, Composite - Maintenance of Way - X930022

Prototype History: In 1918, the United States Railway Administration (USRA) designed a composite (steel frame with wood sides and floor) gondola. 20,000 steel-braced, wood-sided cars were built, many of which lasted through the steam era. Even after the USRA was dissolved in 1921, some composite gondolas continued to be constructed through the 1920s. Once again, during the 2nd world war, composite designs became necessary to conserve steel. Hence, the AAR produced designs for both general service and mill gondolas during the early 1940s.

Road Name History: Maintenance of Way is a generic term that encompasses all activities and equipment related to maintaining railroad tracks in good condition.
Equipment is highly specialized and diversified. A non exhaustive list below:

• Ballast cleaner
• Ballast regulator
• Clearance car
• Crane
• Dynamometer car
• Grinder
• Road–rail vehicle (Hi-Rail)
• Rotary snowplow
• Scale test car
• Stoneblower
• Tamping machine
• Track geometry car

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