What Is a Gondola Car?
Contrary to popular belief, not all railroad cars are the same. A gondola car is just one example of a freight car that has its own specialty, and therefore its own look. Typically, gondola rail cars feature low walls and open tops, and are best for carrying bulky or dense material. The railroad gondola car was named after the gondola boats often found in Venice, which are long, narrow boats typically used to carry passengers around the area. A gondola car has low sides and a flat bottom, much like the original gondola boats.
