Book excerpt: Because Norfolk & Western's existence was predicated on coal, its coal-hauling cars represented its most important rolling stock. In fact, with the exception of the Chesapeake & Ohio, no other railway concentrated its business on coal mining as heavily as N&W.This fully illustrated history of N&W's hoppers and high-side gondolas begins in 1881 and continues through the present Norfolk & Southern operations. Not only is this study a superb technological history, it's also an ideal data file for modellers. The drawings are taken from a number of trade publications and company archives. Photographs from all eras show the cars being both built and used.