Gondola (rail)

For other uses, see Gondola (disambiguation).
This article is about North American railroad practice. For information on European open wagons, see Open wagon.
A railroad gondola seen at Rochelle, Illinois

In North American railroad terminology, a gondola or gondola car is typically an open-topped railroad car used for transporting loose bulk materials; some are covered. Because of their low side walls, gondolas are also suitable for the carriage of such high-density cargos as steel plates or coils, or of bulky items such as prefabricated sections of rail track. Gondolas are distinct from hopper cars in that they do not have doors on their floor to empty cargo.

In some Australian states that follow British practice, gondola cars are called "open wagons".[1]

  1. ^ McAuliffe, Des (1999). "The Snowtown to Port Pirie Line". Proceedings of the 1999 Convention. Modelling the Railways of South Australia. Adelaide. p. 1-129 .