Econogon

Harold Hunley Jr and his son Christopher in a mill-type version of an Econogon in 1980.

Build a String of Econogond

by Harold E. Hunley, Jr.

Modeltec, May 1984

Shortly after their purchase of a 2-1/2 inch scale Allen Models Chloe from builder Alfred McCue, Wilburn and Kenneth Wood made several trips to the Roanoke Transportation Museum on Run Days over the Blue Ridge Live Steamers track. Soon, however, they found themselves tiring of pulling passengers on the Museum's riding cars. This was in the spring of 1979.

Wilburn started to look for a prototype car to model in 1-1/2 inch scale ... something that would be simple but in-expensive.

While at work one evening, Wilburn (who is a Carman for the Norfolk & Western RR) took note of an old N&W G-1 class low-side gondola spotted nearby on a siding. After giving it the once over, he decided that it was the car he wanted to build. A few quick measurements and he was set to start a riding car of his own.

He worked in his spare time and produced a riding car that was well built and, just as he wanted it, very inexpensive.

At the May 1979 meeting of the BRLS, Wilburn brought the car for "Show and Tell." By this time it had been finished with trucks and couplers, painted for his Paradise & Little Maple Railroad and numbered 1001.

The gon really made a hit with the club members present, especially when they were told that there were less than ten dollars in the carbody! (1979 prices, excluding trucks and couplers.)

The BRLS Run Day Committee asked Wilburn if he would prepare all parts needed for two of the cars and assemble them during a Rolling Stock Construction Clinic on the Club Run Days, July 28th and 29th, 1979. Wilburn asked this writer to assist him on the project and, of course, he did just that! For the next month and a half, the two were busy preparing for the Run Days.

On the Run Days, all the parts that they had labored so hard to prepare were assembled into riding cars before many Museum patrons.

By the time Labor Day Weekend (1979) came, out rolled the first of the Club's two new blue gondolas. The gon operated very well over the entire weekend, hauling many a passenger. There were, for sure, two very happy and satisfied car builders in the BRLS that weekend!

The second Club Gondola joined the first soon after and they operate at all Run Days on the Blue Ridge Railroad, the name given to the tracksite by members of the BRLS.

Ever since the Club Gondolas made their appearance with Wilburn's original P&LM 1001, there have been many requests for plans and measurements of both the prototype and the models that were built. After five years of service, these gons have required only minor repairs and touch-up paint.

We're proud to bring to you the story and drawings that will be needed to build gondolas such as Wilburn Wood and Harold Hunley have built. As of this time, there are no fewer than six of the gons built ... both high- and low-side versions, and many more under construction by these two Live Steamers.

Riding cars built to these designs are very sturdy and have a low center of gravity. The choice of high or low sides makes these cars suitable for all from toddler to Senior Citizen as far as safety goes. By following the instructions given here, every one can have a nice, long train of passenger hauling gondolas, all well-built and very inexpensive.

Basic Dimensions, Tools and Materials

The dimensions given in these instructions produce a car that is a little wider than a model of the prototype would be in 1-1/2 inch scale. This makes it possible for full-scale people to be seated within the sides of the cars and not on the top edge of the sides. All dimensions can be altered to fit the available wood and type of car you want to build ... high or low sides.

The prototype N&W class G-1 gondola is 40 feet long with low sides (approximately 4 feet 6 inch sides outside measure). The N&W also has a class G-5 gondola that is about 48 feet long with high sides that measure approximately 5 feet 6 inch (outside measure). You can build with either high or low sides and long or short in length.

You'll need the following tools and materials to cut and assemble the main body:

• TOOLS - Hammer, hand or power wood saw, carpenter's square (to check squareness), tape measure, pencil.
• MATERIALS — 4d nails, 1-1/2 inch roofing nails, 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8 inch thick exterior plywood. Ed: sheetrock screws will work better than nails, as they are less likely to work loose.

First, cut the plywood to the following sizes:

• FLOOR — 1 required 5/8 by 14-1/2 by 59 inches
• SIDES — 2 required 3/8 by 7 by 60 inches
• ENDS — 2 required 1/2 by 6 by 14-1/2 inches

After cutting the plywood, take the two ends, glue and nail to the car floor with 4d nails (5 each end, start at center and work out towards each side). Nail them flush with the ends of the floor. Set the floor and ends aside.

On the car sides (position better side out), measure and mark with pencil the