N Thrall High Side Gondola with Load HZGX #2 (ATH3878)

Thrall High-Side Gondola with Load, HZGX designation — a finely detailed freight car model that recreates Thrall’s coal-hauling gondolas from the mid- to late-20th century. This ready-to-run car features machined metal wheels, screw-mounted 100-ton roller-bearing trucks, and body-mounted McHenry scale operating knuckle couplers with a separately applied brake wheel. The injection-molded body is highly detailed and accurately painted, while the car is weighted for smooth, trouble-free operation on layout curves. It runs on Code 40, 55, and 80 rails with a minimum radius of 9¾ inches. The finish is primed for grime, providing an authentic starting point for weathering to an in-service appearance.

Prototype and background: Thrall was a prominent freight-car maker from the 1960s through the 1980s, specializing in high-side gondolas and rotary-dump coal cars. During that era, coal traffic shifted toward high-sided gondolas to maximize capacity, often unloading with rotary car dumpers. Thrall expanded by acquiring several competing railcar manufacturers, becoming a leading source for these cars. This model captures the look and feel of in-service equipment, with base colors faded to match the prototype and ready for weathering to add grime and rust, making it ideal for coal-service scenes and for pairing with other Thrall-era equipment to evoke mid-century railroad operations.