Gondola (rail)

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In North American railroad terminology, a gondola or gondola car is typically an open-topped railroad car used for transporting loose bulk materials, though there are also covered gondola cars. Because of their low side walls, gondolas are also suitable for the carriage of such high-density cargos as steel plates or coils, or of bulky items such as prefabricated sections of rail track. Gondolas are distinct from hopper cars in that they do not have doors on their floor to empty cargo.

In Australia these wagons are called open wagons.