65' mill gons

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

John,

I have nothing to indicate that N&W proper had any cars in that number series.  In fact, I can't locate any gondola class for that particular number series.

According to an article in the February 2006 RailModel Journal, by Richard Hendrickson, the new Athearn gon is based up an AAR Recommended Practice design and most closely resembles an ATSF car.  Cars of this design, or very similar, were also built for SP, CofG, EL, IT, L&N, Rock Island, SAL, Friso, C&O, Southern, Wabash and Western Pacific.

Now, Wabash did have 50 of these cars in its number series 12000-12049, and a photo of 12035 appears in the Hendrickson article.  Wabash built these cars in its Decatur Shops in 1942.  After Wabash was merged into N&W in 1964, these cars were renumbered as N&W 312000-312049.  So if you are modeling after 1964, the Wabash cars would be correct.  I do not know if these cars ever were repainted and stenciled for N&W.  They are class G-57 on the N&W equipment diagrams.  Anyone have a photo?

I might add that the number prefix "18" was used by N&W to incorporate the rolling stock of the P&WV into the N&W roster at the 1964 merger.  The Hendrickson article makes no reference to P&WV having any of these cars.

Of course, the Illinois Terminal was merged into N&W just prior to the formation of current day NS.  According to Hendrickson, IT had 25 of these cars in its number series 2600-2624 and these were used primarily in East St. Louis.  I do not have any information on these cars from an N&W standpoint.

If you are modeling the steam era, the only 65' mill gon that I am aware of for N&W is the G-3 and G-3a.  These are very similar to a PRR G26.  A model of the PRR, decorated for N&W, was offered many years ago in HO scale by, I believe, Eastern Car Works.  It is a plastic flat kit.  It may still be available.

Jim Brewer

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  To: NWHS 
  Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 2:13 PM
  Subject: 65' mill gons


  Hi Listers,

      Last week I tried to post this question and never saw it come though.  My friend Craig and I were discussing Athearn's new 65' mill gondola and he was wondering if the N&W cars numbered in the 187000-187099 were similar.  I looked in my 1983 ORER and didn't find any cars in that number series.  The car numbers on either side are for 52' gons.  Also I didn't find any cars in the latest Arrow freight car roster.  Can anyone verify that this group of cars are indeed 65' mill gons from any era?  Build date, correct numbers series, class, heritage along with a photo or two would be much appreciated.

  Thanks in advance,
  John Hecker
  nwrlinemp72 at comcast.net


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