1104 B&O(Chessie) O-90(G-20) and O-70(G-21) Gondola

In 1964, Bethlehem Steel built two related classes of fixed end 53’ gondolas for Baltimore & Ohio. The first 775 of these were B&O 360000-360774, class O-90 (later Chessie class G-20), and were 90 ton cars. The next 600 of these cars were B&O 360775-361374, class O-70 (later Chessie class G-21), and were 70 ton cars. The cars featured Wine lading anchors on the top chords, and composite floors made up of alternating steel and wood, combining the strength of steel with the ability to nail into wood to secure loads. In the late Chessie era, some cars were retrofitted with plain wood floors instead. These cars lasted at least into the 1990s, but it seems that their plain bearing trucks largely doomed them to scrap rather than their continuing in service into the 2000s.

The kit allows you to model either of the above classes depending on your choice of trucks. We also offer the wood floor as a separate part, to allow you to model that Chessie variant.
Additionally, there were covered cars built as part of the 1964 order, class O-90A (G-20A) and O-70A (G-21A). The covered cars featured some body differences from the open cars, so they will be released later as a separate kit.

All cars as-built were painted black with white lettering, including a capitol dome logo and a large roman “B&O” in the center of the car. Most cars remained in this paint for about 20 years (the large B&O commonly fading away), but photos do exist of a very sparse few painted in the later, more spartan Futura B&O scheme. Like many other Chessie cars, repaints into that scheme took place in number starting in the late 1970s and especially early 1980s.

We produce 100 ton plain bearing trucks for the O-90/G-20, our PN 4105-02. Photos suggest the majority of cars remained on these trucks throughout their lives.
Suggested trucks for the O-70/G-21 are Moloco TR-6088/6110.

Items are currently out of stock pending a restock of Photo Etching. Etchings are ordered and should arrive within 30 days. We will leave ordering open and items will be shipped ASAP. Please be aware though that there will be a short delay on shipping of the item.