Twenty Models

HO model available now.
N scale model (ladder version only) coming 2025

GN-01 - CPR Steel "Baby" Hart-Otis Gondola

The CPR had approximately 1950 steel drop bottom Hart-Otis patent gondola cars used for transporting coal and coke, later cinders, sand, gravel, etc. There were two door release mechanisms used on the cars depending on the order - National and Hart. The National mechanism was a leverage-latch type that used gravity to open the doors. The Hart version used a rachette mechanism to move the door hardware. The model is the 38'10" long 346415-347437(odd numbered) series cars built by Dominion Car & Foundry 1909 that utilized the late Hart rachette mechanism similar to the Big Otis cars. The numbers of 38'10" cars in revenue service quickly dwindled after 1952 with the last car out of revenue service by 1958. In 1955 a handful were reassigned as cinder cars in the 416xxx number series and lasted to the late 1960s. There were other series of steel cars that lasted to the early 1960s.

Kit GN-01a will be the as built car with grab irons on the sides and GN-01b will be the 1926'ish rebuilt cars with ladders.

This project is referencing Dominion Car & Foundry general arrangement drawing 10115, CPR folio drawings 4842 & 4843 and stencil drawing 34-C-31 Rev. B.

For more detailed information on the baby Otis cars please refer to Ken Goslett's excellent 2 part series in Railroad Model Craftsman December 1987 and January 1988.

Kit Instructions as of October 23, 2025.