Westerfield HO-Scale LCL Individual Containers for USRA 46' Mill Gondolas, Early Container

Operating Era: 1916-1975. Pennsylvania RR, New York Central, Baltimore & Ohio, Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny, Reading, Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. USRA ordered 4,500 46' mill gondolas for B&O, Reading, NYC (including PMcK&Y) and PRR. The cars were based on the W&LE design of 1916 but with wood floors because of war shortages. Like the other USRA designs, several railroads adopted it as their standard car of the 1920's. B&O, Reading and NYC ordered thousands of the cars. These containers were used in the early 20th Century. This system of container cars was inaugurated by the NYC in 1922.  The containers were steel boxes and six to nine were loaded in steel gondolas.  The containers allowed shippers to avoid the expense of boxing or crating their merchandise but afforded the same protection.