Description
ATHEARN Burlington CB&Q Gondola #83116 – HO Scale Vintage U.S.A. – Red with Crate Load – Foam Insert Only – 9V Sound Cable (Untested) Classic CB&Q Freight Car • Transition-Era Icon • Collectible Athearn U.S.A. Model • Protecting the Fun Step into the heart of American railroad history with this vintage Athearn Burlington Route gondola (road number 83 116) — a beloved piece of HO scale rolling stock crafted during the era when Athearn’s U.S.A. production set the gold standard for rugged, reliable, highly collectible model trains. This detailed freight car features its original removable crate/cargo load , original foam cradle , and an uncommon addition: a 9-volt powered sound cable with an on/off switch (included, untested ). Whether you’re a Burlington historian, a layout builder, or a collector of classic Athearn “blue box” tooling, this gondola brings freight-yard nostalgia and mid-century realism to any HO layout. ✨ Condition Overview Used vintage condition Tested and rolls smoothly on standard HO rails Has a 9-volt sound cable with on/off switch (untested) No brake wheel present Nice overall cosmetic appearance Some paint wear, scratches, and scuffs from age and layout handling May benefit from light cleaning depending on your display or operational preference Stored in foam cradle only (no outer box) ➡️ Used items are sold AS-IS with no warranty. Please review all photos carefully and zoom in — they provide the most accurate representation of this vintage collectible. 🚂 Technical & Operational Details Manufacturer: Athearn Scale: HO Scale (1:87) Gauge: Standard HO Road Name: Burlington Route (CB&Q – Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Road Number: 83 116 Body Type: Gondola freight car with removable crate load Control System: DC Analog (standard HO power) Material: Durable injection-molded plastic Sound Feature: Add-on sound module powered via 9-volt cable (untested) Couplers: Standard-style couplers compatible with most HO equipment Ready to run on any HO layout — simply place, couple, and roll. 📦 Included in This Listing Athearn HO Burlington CB&Q Gondola #83116 Factory-style removable crate load Original foam insert / cradle (protects car during shipping and storage) 9-volt cable for auxiliary sound (on/off switch attached, untested ) Everything shown in photos is included. 📜 Historical Storytelling – The Burlington Route Legacy During the golden decades of American freight railroading, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad — affectionately known as the Burlington Route — became synonymous with speed, efficiency, and innovation across the Midwest and Great Plains. Its bright red freight cars with bold white lettering were instantly recognizable from the industrial districts of Chicago to the wheat fields of Nebraska. Gondolas like this one were the everyday workhorses of the system, hauling: Steel beams & sheet metal Machinery Lumber Industrial crates (just like the load included!) Scrap and mixed general freight On any given day in the 1950s and 60s, you could find cars like this rolling under grain elevators, sitting in cluttered yard tracks awaiting new assignments, or trailing behind first-generation diesel locomotives such as EMD GP7s, GP9s, F-Units, and early SD models. Athearn captured the look and feel of that era perfectly: bold graphics, tough molding, and proportions that mirror mid-century prototype gondolas. These U.S.A.-produced models became legendary in the hobby and remain highly sought after for their durability, charm, and operational reliability. 🔧 Model Features & Craftsmanship Vintage Athearn U.S.A. tooling — known for long-lasting quality Authentic CB&Q lettering with accurate reporting marks and capacity data Excellent rolling performance for realistic consist operation Textured crate load instantly adds realism to your freight scene Removable load allows for customizing or scratch-built cargo Solid molded underframe typical of classic Athearn engineering Untested 9-volt sound cable offers opportunity for restoration, upgrades, or display This model bridges eras — perfect for steam-to-diesel transition layouts, early diesel operations, or Burlington Northern precursor consists. 🏞 Layout Ideas & Display Inspiration This car enhances nearly any HO modeling environment: Industrial switching yards Midwestern grain lines & small-town rail scenes Scrap yards, lumber mills, and steel works Transition-era lash-ups behind GP7s, GP9s, F7s Weathering projects — this gondola practically invites rust, grime, and streaked lettering Glass case displays for Burlington collectors The included crate load helps tell a story instantly — imagine a bustling freight yard under a hot 1959 sun, switching crews shouting, a Baldwin switcher idling nearby, and this gondola ready to be added to a heavy mixed freight. 🎯 Collector Highlights Vintage Athearn U.S.A. production — increasingly scarce Perfect for CB&Q fans, Burlington historians, and HO scale collectors Ideal for upgrading, weathering, or restoring, thanks to sturdy construction Unique untested 9-volt sound cable adds rarity and curiosity value Compatible with nearly all HO scale rolling stock fleets A wonderful piece for anyone who appreciates American freight railroads and the timeless magic of mid-century railroading. 📦 Shipping, Handling & Care Your item will be packed carefully in its foam cradle, with additional protection to ensure safe arrival. As seasoned model train sellers, we treat your purchase with the same care we would expect for our own collections. Protecting the fun. If you're looking to expand your Burlington consist, add authenticity to your layout, or acquire a sturdy, historic Athearn model with display and restoration potential, this CB&Q Gondola #83116 is an outstanding addition. All aboard! ATHEARN: BURLINGTON CB&Q 83116 GONDOLA HO Scale U.S.A. VINTAGE, RED SOLD AS IS Look closely at the pictures to see further details. We ships USPS PLEASE LOOK AT THE PHOTOS CAREFULLY BEFORE PURCHASING!! If you are purchasing more than one item from us and would like combined shipping, PLEASE request an adjusted invoice from us while still in the cart and BEFORE paying. Ebay does not usually calculate combined shipping accurately and you might get overcharged. Please be aware that when we photograph items, we use lighting that will show the details well. Although we try to present the product as accurately as possible, the lighting may affect the overall look of the item by appearing lighter/darker or possibly a different hue than the actual item. Depending on the type of lighting you have in your home, there may be some differences between the photos and the actual item. If this is a concern of yours, please feel free to request additional photos made in natural lighting or ask for a more detailed description of the item PRIOR TO PURCHASE! PLEASE NOTE: We greatly appreciate your interest in our item for sale. We look forward to a pleasant, quick and satisfying transaction for everybody, so please note the following information before bidding. Thank you! ITEM DESCRIPTIONS: * We will try to describe items well and provide plenty of photos. Please review these carefully before bidding or purchasing. * Only the items pictured and described are what you will receive when purchased. * We will occasionally offer an item clearly marked "AS-IS". This means that we are not sure if it works because we are unable to test it for whatever reason. We will offer these at a discounted price then a similar "working" item. It is possible that these items will work fine, but it also is possible that these items are more useful for their parts. Please only bid on or purchase these items if you are well aware of this, as we will only provide refunds of actual item price (no shipping cost refunds) for these items. * If you have any questions that aren't addressed by the descriptions or photos, please feel free to ask before you bid. SHIPPING: * We usually do not offer shipping to international addresses, but ARE WILLING TO TAKE CONSIDERATIONS. * We try to pack items as carefully as possible, but damage may occur during shipping. If you receive an item that was damaged in shipping, please contact us and we will work with you to resolve the problem. * We will combine shipping costs for all items the same buyer purchases from us within 2 days. Please wait to pay for items until you're done shopping with us. Please contact us if you're expecting to buy more items from us, or to have us adjust the shipping costs. * We will usually ship items out within 24 hours of payment being received Sunday through Friday at noon. We will notify the buyer if there will be a delay in shipping for some reason. Please allow additional time for holidays and weekends when the post office is closed. If payment is received after noon (EST) on Friday, the item might not be shipped until the following Monday. * We do try to recycle shipping materials as much as possible. RETURNS: We abide by eBay's Money Back Guarantee. We definitely want our customers to be happy with their purchase! You may return an item within 30 days of receiving it with the following guidelines: * If the item is defective or damaged (unless we clearly marked the listing "AS-IS"), the buyer will receive a full refund after the buyer returns it and it is received by us. Customers who falsely claim their item is defective, damaged, or not as described in order to receive a full refund and free return shipping will be permanently blocked from making future purchases from us. * If the item is as described (including "AS-IS" items) and the buyer decides for any other reason than defective/damaged to return it, only the actual price of the item will be refunded once it has been returned and it is received by us. The buyer will be asked to pay all original and return shipping charges. This includes all reasons other than defective/damaged, including wrong size, wrong type, changed mind, etc. All "AS-IS" items will fall into this category of return. Please make sure the item is what you want before purchasing it. * Please contact us before initiating a refund request. FEEDBACK: We always leave feedback at the end of transaction. We consider the transaction to be over when we receive feedback from the buyer confirming the item arrived satisfactorily. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase please contact us before leaving neutral or negative feedback. WE APPRECIATE POSITIVE FEEDBACK IF YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH YOUR PURCHASE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS ITEM!
Postage and customs from the US was very reasonable, came out as Royal Mail last mile at my end, which was also nice, value for money. The item was extremely well packaged with care. This was like a parcel from a personal friend with the extra stickers on the outside and complimentary sticker and welcome note inside. What's nice about this community sometimes is dealers like this one. I have needed this 300c for a long time and it was as described. Would trade with again, many thanks!
The caboose was well packed and arrived without new damage. I think it was a good value as the damage was disclosed before the sale so I got exactly what I expected. The repairs have been made and it is ready for service lacking only a coupler I've yet to install. The seller was responsive to messages. I would buy from this seller again.
Item came as described. These guys know how to ship a Hot Wheel car! Great care was taken in packaging and shipping the item to me. The upbeat messages written on the outside made my day! Good value. I 100% recommend them to any Hot Wheels collector. CHOO CHOO Boys ROCK! A++++
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