Rivet Counter HO Scale Bethgon G52X Coal Gondola, Conrail/Small Logo

Developed in the late 1980s by Bethlehem Steel Company’s (BSC, later Johnstown America, and finally FreightCar America), the Bethgon has become one of the most common cars for hauling coal. Originally called the “Coal Porter”, the name was changed to Bethgon when the family of singer Cole Porter asked BSC to change the name.

The Bethgon’s basic shape is that of hopper with sloped end sheets. Two tubs run between the trucks adding capacity for 18 additional tons of coal while lowering the center of gravity making the car more stable. Most Bethgons have been built of aluminum which reduces the weight of the car by some 12 tons compared to a traditional steel hopper of the same capacity. Since the first Bethgon was built, many thousands more with varying capacities have been built along with thousands of similar cars from other builders.

In 1997, Conrail built 600 Bethgons at the Hollidaysburg Car Shop from engineering drawings supplied by Johnstown America. These were 4100 cubic-foot cars with a capacity of 116 tons of coal. They were Conrail class G52X.

After the breakup of Conrail, most of these cars went to Norfolk Southern where they can be found in almost every Norfolk Southern coal train still today.