HO PRR GS & GSh Gondola Decals

This set was produced to introduce an more comprehensive set for these classes.

Introduced in 1902, the GS class was the first all-steel gondola built by the PRR. The GS family of cars were small in size, but large in quantity, being the most numerous group of gondolas on the PRR in the years surrounding WW2. From a GS fleet high of 32,700, approximately 26,000 remained in service in 1945. The numbers fell dramatically post-WW2 to 15,000 by 1950 and by 1955 only 500 were left. Four GS remained in service into Penn central, finally being retired in 1972. The last of the GSh class were retired in 1967. The GSh class consisted of rebuilt GS and GSd class cars rebuilt starting in October 1944. A total of 914 were built. At least 9 GSh survived into January 1965.

The GS Class fell into multiple numbering blocks, with the most prominent being featured on the decal. The GSh had one number block. The numbers have been constructed to allow mixing and matching to create additional correct numbers. Also, a number jumble has been included. A 1945 roster is included.

This sheet has enough data to do 4 cars, with 2 GS classes and 2 GSh. There are six different reweigh/repack dates cover locations system wide and multiple re-weigh dates ranging from the mid-1930’s through to the late 1950’s.

The GS Class has been produced by in plastic by Bowser, although they did the early version, so for modeling it in the scheme included on this sheet it needs some minor upgrades. Both the GS and GSh have been produced as resin kits by F&C.

For painting instructions any of these gondolas in the Circle Keystone Monogram scheme (pre-1954), the entire car including underbody and trucks is to be painted in Freight Car Color.

For references in regard to the PRR's Gondola  
fleet please consult Pennsylvania Railroad Gondolas, Revenue & Work Equipment, 1869 to 1968 by Al Buchan and Elden Gatwood, and The Keystone, Vol 8 No. 2 both published by the PRRT&HS. and Volumes 1-3 of the PRR Color Guide