I remember when I was a child (late 70's/early 80's), I had a model railroad car that was called an "Integral-Cover Coil Car". I have done some research on the car in the last few weeks, and cannot find any more info on these interesting freight cars. Hope you can help.

This was a 125ton gondola about 60' long that incorporated the lid as a two-part piece. Manufactured by Evans Transportation Equipment Group in the late 1960's, it opened like a butterfly door would over the sides to allow loading/unloading of steel coils. Claims were made into how much faster and easier it was to load/unload. I have never seen these unique pieces of rolling stock ever, and assume that they have all been scrapped in the first few years of thier projected lifespan - or the doors were removed. The new-age coil cars are shorter and have removable lids, much like the predecessors of these cars. I guess they didn't go over too well with the railroads.

The only railroads I have been able to find that purchased the cars were the P&LE(50)42250-42299 and the B&LE(10)31000-31009. If they still exist today, imagine the luck needed to spot one of these guys.

almo