(erielack) Erie 10 panel high side gons with drop doors

["rdukarm" <rdukarm_@_adelphia.net>]

The Erie RR had the 70-ton steel drop-bottom gondolas built by Standard Steel Car Co. at Butler, PA. I have a 1924 Diagram Book which shows cars 43000 to 43999 being built Jan 1924 to Apr 1924 and cars 44000 to 44999 being built Nov 1923 to Jan 1924. A hand-written note on the page states the average cost was $1002.98. 

In a modeling article I have authored by Richard Reichenbach (source unknown) he notes that these gons have the distinction of being the first mass-produced 70-ton capacity cars, and would remain so until the arrival of the triple-bay 38000 series hoppers in 1929. He has a photo of 45210 credited to Dan Biernacki and another of H44591 credited to Andrew Hritz.

Near the end of 1934 the Erie converted 750 of the 43000 series cars to self-clearing hoppers. The letter "H" was added before the number. An article and photograph on these hoppers appeared in the Dec 1934 Erie Magazine, page 9.

Of the remaining 1245 cars, 250 were converted to GT flat bottom gons in Dec 1937; this included removal of the drop-bottom doors, installation of a solid steel floor, and an "AB" brake system. Except for two cars which received wood floors, the cubic capacity and demensions remained the same. Another 200 cars were modified in Mar 1939 and a final group of 150 was turned out of Dunmore that July.

>From 1939 to 1940 the 750 "H" series 43000's were renumbered to the 37000-37449 series. The Oct 1956 ORER shows 13 cars still in service. An Apr 1961 ORER shows no 37000 series. The 43000 series was reassigned to 52-foot gons and it appears the remaining original 43000-44000 series gons were renumbered to the 45006-45599 series. There are 48 listed in 1961.

Ronald R. Dukarm
rdukarm_@_adelphia.net

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