These eight (8) ton gondolas are based on 24' flat cars built by Carter Brothers in Newark, California in the late 1800's. It was common practice for narrow gauge railroads to install sides and ends on flat cars to convert them to gondolas. These gondolas were used to haul any materials that required additional containment such as sand, gravel, ballast, coal etc.

Since these models are based on standard Carter Brothers 24' flat cars, they can be lettered for many western railroads and be historically correct. The South Pacific Coast Railroad, Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Nevada Central Railroad all had 24' Carter Brothers flat cars on their rosters.

Dimensions and specifications for these cars were taken from drawings by noted railroad historian Herman H. Darr.