Norfolk & Southern steel flat car 1894

The Norfolk & Southern railroad steel flat car below as illustrated in 1894.  The Norfolk & Southern started as the Elizabeth City & Norfolk chartered in 1870 became the Norfolk & Southern railroad in 1883.  It seems to be a remote ancestor of the current Norfolk Southern.

Their first attempt at a metal flat used an iron tube frame which apparently was not up to heavy weights.  This car used steel tubular frame that was more successful.  The photo shows it hauling 147 car wheels weighing 80,000 pounds.  The steel tubes were bolted together and used "gas pipes" between the steel tubes.  The car was 34 foot long.  This was an experimental car.

This would make a neat model.