An interesting photo taken last week of the Bethlehem Steel plant shows several of the wide-gauge ore trolleys lined up on what I believe is called the "high line":

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2006030122090120027.jpg

Does anyone know what NMIH's plans for these cars are? They're unique and interesting pieces of equipment, but I know virtually nothing about them - who built them, or when.

Under Bethlehem Steel’s original, and now out of date, plan for the redevelopment of the site, the wide gauge (7’10.5” gauge) ore transfer cars were intended to be converted into people movers. There is a total of nine cars, all built by Bethlehem Steel between 1935 and 1960. Seven are bottom dump cars and two are side dump cars. The side dump cars have a capacity of 70 tons or iron ore and are powered by 250 volt DC which goes to four 51 horsepower traction motors. The trolley poles are located on the north side of the cars. All cars have air brakes.
More information, historic photos, and a few blueprints of these cars can be found in the digitized 195 page long “Blast Furnace Division” book contained on the “Blast Furnace Complex” CD sold by the National Museum of Industrial History (NMIH). Ordering information is at the bottom of the page at: http://www.rypn.org/RyPN/briefs/viewbriefs.asp?filename=051001003729.txt