Gondola (rail)
In North American railroad terminology, a gondola car or gondola is typically an open-topped railroad car used for transporting loose bulk materials, although general freight was also carried in the pre-container era. Because of their low side walls, gondola cars 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. Gondola cars are distinct from hopper cars in that they do not have doors on their floor to empty cargo.
Source: Wikipedia
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