Nickel Plate Road - 50'6" Drop End Gondola w/ Tire Load - What Era?

[Wrath of Wotan]

Can anyone tell us what era the Nickel Plate Road - 50'6" Drop End Gondola w/ Tire Load is dated for?  Hoping it will work in the Transition Era.  Thanks in advance! 

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Ron,

I think I see "BLT 1-44" stenciled on the side in the online catalog picture.

NKP historical society says Gondola 66048 built 7-44.

http://nkphts.org/rosters/freight/gondolas.html

Not sure how long a gondola lasts before it is beat up beyond recognition and/or scrapped.   

Hope this helps. 

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

[richg]

Yep, just found the same in a Google search.

Rich

[Joe Satnik]

Rich,

Ha.  Beat you to it. 

This time, at least.

Joe

[RAM]

BLT 1-44" 30 year life of the car.  It could have lasted to 12-73

[richg]

Rich,

Ha.  Beat you to it. 

This time, at least.

Joe

Lol. I took a lot of time reading about the Nickle Plate. I get easily dis-trackted when searching for info. My brain installs a turnout.

Rich

[Wrath of Wotan]

Thanks to everybody - much appreciated! 

[jward]

freight cars of  that era were permitted in interchange service for up to 40 years. with a built date of 1944, it definitely saw service in the transition era, which pretty much ran from the end of ww2 to about 1958.

[ebtnut]

The "transition era" is a bit elastic.  While 1958 makes some sense, being as the B&O and PRR were out of the steam business by then, some folks cite May of 1960 when the N&W finally dropped the fires.  That point counts for heavy duty main line steam, though a case could also be made that the era goes to 1967 when the D&RGW finally pulled the plug on their narrow gauge operations.  Then there is the UP, which has always had at least one steamer on the roster since the beginning in the 1860's.