Tangent Scale Models G31B
The G31 series were the first post-war gondolas, introduced in November 1948. The class featured a 52'-6" interior length and a fishbelly design. These cars lasted well past the Penn Central merger. Sub-classes ran from A through N and included multiple builders and spotting features.
Overview of Sub-Classes
| G31 | G31A | G31B | G31C | G31D | G31E | G31F | G31H | G31K | G31L | G31M | G31N | |
| Builder | PRR | Pullman | ACF | General American | ACF | General American | G31 Rebuild | G31 Rebuild | G31A Rebuild | G31B Rebuild | G31C Rebuild | G31D Rebuild |
| First Built | 11/48 | 11/50 | 4/51 | 10/51 | 10/51 | 12/51 | 8/60 | 8/66 | 5/67 | 7/67 | 10/67 | 3/68 |
| Quantity Built | 2,900 | 4,799 | 2,000 | 750 | 1,200 | 500 | 1,399 | 400 | 1,135 | 747 | 287 | 152 |
| HO Scale Models | Tangent Scale Models | |||||||||||
| Floor | Steel | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Steel | Steel | ||||
| Sides | Welded | Welded | Welded | Riveted | Welded | Riveted | ||||||
| Ends | Drop, Dreadnaught | Drop, Pullman-Standard | Drop, Dreadnaught | Drop, Dreadnaught | Fixed, Dreadnaught | Fixed, Dreadnaught | ||||||
| Brakes | Pump, mounted to the corner of the drop-end yoke. | Power handbrakes, end brake platforms. | Power handbrakes, end brake platforms. | |||||||||
| Tie Downs | Welded to the side sheet. | Welded to the edge of the top cord. | Welded to the edge of the top cord. |
Roster Numbers
| Class | Car | Number | AAR Class | PRR Oct 44 | PRR Oct 48 | PRR Apr 52 | PRR Oct 53 | PRR Oct 58 | PRR Oct 63 | PRR Apr 68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G31 | 363400 | 366299 | GB | - | - | 2900 | 2900 | 2898 | 2293 | 775 |
| G31a | 373950 | 375749 | GB GBS | - | - | 1049 | 1799 | 1796 | 1793 | 1389 |
| G31a | 612000 | 614999 | GB GBS | - | - | 3000 | 3000 | 2997 | 2993 | 2480 |
| G31b | 371950 | 373949 | GB GBS | - | - | 2000 | 2000 | 1994 | 1989 | 1575 |
| G31c | 371200 | 371949 | GB GBS | - | - | 750 | 750 | 750 | 747 | 596 |
| G31d | 375750 | 376949 | GB GBR GBS GBSR | - | - | 1200 | 1200 | 1196 | 1195 | 1183 |
| G31e | 376950 | 377449 | GB GBS | - | - | 416 | 500 | 500 | 499 | 495 |
| G31f | 363400 | 366299 | GB | - | - | - | - | - | 600 | 1370 |
| G31h | 363400 | 366299 | GB | - | - | - | - | - | - | 400 |
| G31k | 373950 | 375749 | GB | - | - | - | - | - | - | 388 |
| G31k | 612000 | 614999 | GB | - | - | - | - | - | - | 500 |
| G31l | 371950 | 373949 | GB | - | - | - | - | - | - | 397 |
| G31m | 371200 | 371949 | GB | - | - | - | - | - | - | 145 |
| Roster data compiled by Rich Orr; courtesy of prr.railfan.net. | ||||||||||
Special Equipment
| Type | Car Series | Car Type | Number of Cars | Notes |
| Auto Parts, GBS | 371200-371949 | G31C | 16 | Equipped with racks for hauling auto frames. |
| 371950-373949 | G31B | 31 | ||
| 373950-376949 | G31A | 27 | ||
| 375750-376949 | G31D | 131* | ||
| 376950-377449 | G31E | 4 | ||
| 612000-614999 | G31A | 7 | ||
| Cold Rolled Bar, GBSR | 375774, 375910, 375945, 376704, 376839 | G31D | 5 | Equipped with movable bulkheads and 3-section roof for shipment of cold rolled bar or tinplate in coils on pallets. |
| Bundled Steel, GBR | 376037, 376076, 376755, 376782, 376856 | G31D | 5 | Equipped with extended sides and ends and removablle roof for shipment of steel in bundles. |
| Coiled Strip Steel, GBS | 375750-376949 | G31D | 209 | Equipped for hauling coil strip steel. |
| Coiled Strip Steel, GBS | 376950-377449 | G31E | 302 | Equipped for hauling coil strip steel. |
| Coiled Strip Steel, GBS | 375977, 376240, 376262, 376943 | G31D | 4 | Equipped with stainless steel skids and covers. |
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* Some G31D in the lot were leased to the Wabash and some were assigned to scrap service Source: Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society |
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The G31
PRR G31 with optional equipment
The PRR built 2,900 G31 with a steel floor, drop ends, and pump brakes.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
The G31A
Pullman-Standard built 4,799 G31A and leased them to the Pennsy. They came with wood floors and a Pullman-Standard drop end (vs. a Dreadnaught end).
No models of the G31A have been offered to date.
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The G31B
ACF built 2,000 G31B for the Pennsy. This class had a wood floor, Dreadnaught ends, and tie-downs welded to the edge of the top chord (rather than on the side sheet).
Tangent Scale Models offers the G31B.
Tangent Scale Models G31B
The G31C
General American built 750 G31C for the Pennsy. These cars had riveted sides (vs. welded), wood floors, and Dreadnaught drop ends.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
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The G31D
American Car & Foundry (ACF) built 1,200 G31D. They were welded, with wood floors, fixed Dreadnaught ends, power brakes, and end brake platforms.
Eight G31D were converted to coil service, but without covers.
Five G31D were known to have been fitted with extended sides and a three-piece removable StanRay roof and four moveable interior bulkheads. They would be used for shipment of cold-riolled bar steel or tinoplate in small coils on pallets.
Five more G31D were also fitted with extended sides and StanRay roof, but for shipment of steel in bundles.
209 G31D were eventually converted to skid and cover cars for coil service.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
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The G31E
General American built 300 G31E, again using riveted design, with wood floors, fixed Dreadnaught ends, power brakes, and end brake platforms.
Between the mid-1950s and 1964, 354 G31E were re-equipped with "skid and cover" for coiled steel service.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
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The G31F
Beginning in August 1960, 600 G30 were converted to G31F.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
The G31H
Beginning in August 1966, 400 G30 were converted to G31H.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
The G31K
Beginning in May 1967, 1,135 G30A were converted to G31K.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
The G31L
Beginning in July 1967, 1,135 G30B were converted to G31L.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.
The G31M
Beginning in July 1967, 287 G30C were converted to G31M.
No models of the G31 have been offered to date.