Gondola (rail)
![A railroad gondola seen at Rochelle, Illinois](/Images/godic/202501/31/CW_5097_at_Rochelle,_IL,_200407181052.jpg")
![A 30 cu ft (0.85 m3) mine car, drawing from the United States Bureau of Mines](/Images/godic/202501/31/30-cu.ft.Minecar1052.jpg")
![Replica of a chaldron wagon](/Images/godic/202501/31/Wooden_coal_truck_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6855901052.jpg")
![A side-dump gondola on display at the US National Railroad Museum](/Images/godic/202501/31/Side_dump_gondola_at_NRM1052.jpg")
In US railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials. Because of its low side walls, gondolas are used to carry either very dense material, such as steel plates or coils, or bulky items such as prefabricated pieces of rail track.