I remember when 7/8ths scale cars were first show in the Garden Railways magazine. The first was a flat car that caught my interest. Two months later it was a low-sided gondola. Basically the flat car with low walls added. I was tempted, but as there was no motive power available at that time, I held off. Two months later it was high sided gondola. I could not resist any longer. The assembled car advertised was expensive, so I bought a US$69 dollar kit from Hartford for Christmas. By the time it reached my door the postage, currency exchange, Provincial and Federal Sales Taxes made it a CAN$140 kit.
It was fun to build and weather. It had working brakes, but after a turning the brake wheel a few times the fine chains pulled free from the frame. They were replaced with brass rods to hang the brake shoe assemblies. I thought about making my own cars, but the necessary wheels and metal details cost more than the kit. The car sat around for a while and ended up a candy dish. Over time the top of the boards looked very realistic, as one of cats found them tasty to chew on. It was then emptied and placed on a shelf where it gathered years of dust.
I thought about making motive power to haul it by kit bashing a Bachmann side-rod diesel I bought for $60, but never got around to it. Eventually I gave it to Bob when he expressed an interest in 78ths scale. My way of thanking him for all he does for us here in his living room.