Rapido is excited to add more of their HO freight car - the North­ern Pacific 41’-6” drop bottom gondola! Rapido have teamed up with members of the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association to bring you this all-new HO model of the NP’s unique gondola.

The Pressed Steel Car Company built five hundred 41’-6” drop bottom gondolas for the Northern Pacific in 1940. Numbered in the 50000-50499 series these cars were used in general service on the NP, in particular coal and ore service. Additional groups of cars were built with just minor changes in construction, primarily on the underframe. Over their long service lives many were assigned to pulpwood loading, and many more were given extended height sides for use in woodchip and beet loading.

Between 1966 and 1968 groups of these cars were renumbered into the 58250-58749 series. Some cars lasted into the BN era, though it is unlikely that many got more than a patch out paint job at this late date. The last cars were removed from service in 1982, although some still soldiered on in BN work service.

In addition to Rapido’s offering of the standard gondola, the NPRHA has commissioned a unique model of the extended height woodchip cars. They are also offering exclusive additional car numbers on the standard gondolas so that you can round out your fleet!

• Two versions: Drop Bottom Gondola and the unique Wood Chip sidesTwo versions: Drop Bottom Gondola and the unique Wood Chip sides
• Lasted over 40 years in service, with some into the BN eraLasted over 40 years in service, with some into the BN era
• Excellent for general service as well as coal, ore and BN MOW serviceExcellent for general service as well as coal, ore and BN MOW service

The Rapido Trains HO scale Drop Bottom Gondola features:

• Designed from original blueprints and field measurements
• Fully detailed interior and underframe
• Rapido semi-scale metal couplers
• Free-rolling trucks with turned metal wheels
• Accurate paint and decoration
• Multiple road numbers per scheme
• Suggested minimum radius: 18”

Order Due Date: May 15, 2025

Anticipated Delivery Date: July 2025

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. Gondolas? Click here!