[chuck n]

The D&RGW used two types of idler cars.
One was on a very short frame and I think that the wheels were set for standard gauge. This car was equipped with standard gauge and narrow gauge couplers. The Standard gauge couplers were centered on the end beam and the Narrow gauge couplers were off to the side. This was used to pull standard gauge cars between Alamosa and Antonito with narrow gauge engines. The idler cars would precede and follow the standard gauge cars while all of the other cars in the train were narrow gauge. The train could stop along the route for picking up and dropping off cars.
The second type of idler car that they used was a regular narrow gauge flat. This was used on either end of a gondola on which the ends had been removed. This was done because the drilling pipe that was being shipped to Farmington, N. M. was too long for the gondolas and over hung on the flat. The drilling pipe trains were made up as follows: flat, gondola, flat, gondola, flat, etc.

Accucraft is making the open ended gondolas and the idler flats will go with those cars. They had to relocate the break wheel and staff to the side of the car so that it would not interfere with the pipe load. I would imagine the the Accucraft car would have the modified brake system.

Hope this helps.
Chuck N