Freight
Reading Company 3-Bay Hopper, Class HTF, #59061 & #59097
Background & History
These two hopper cars began their life on the Reading as Class HTW. 3-Bay 70 Ton cars having a length of 40” 8” and a capacity of 2622 cu. ft. Having been built in September thru November of 1956 by Bethlehem Steel in Johnstown, PA, they were wearing out. They were part of a batch of 1000 cars in that class. Reading decided to do various rebuilding projects from the class using random car numbers as they needed service.
In June of 1966, a project to rebuild 100 cars was begun. Cars were randomly sent back to Bethlehem Steel for rebuild. By August, all 100 cars were completed. They were reassigned to Class HTF and renumbered into the 59000 to 59099 series.
3-Bay Hoppers #59061 & #59097 sit north of Reading, PA in June 1993.
(Photo Courtesy John Caples)
HTF 3-Bay Hoppers were rather plain looking with only a large RDG to identify them as Reading equipment as shown in this photograph from Craig T. Bossler’s book “RDG Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment”.
HTW #60095 became HTF #59061 and HTW #60087 became HTF #59097.
Many of the HTF hopper cars went on to serve Conrail. I haven’t found out when we received these car, but hopefully an update will occur.
RCT&HS crews plan on returning the cars to their original “Plain Jane” black paint with the RDG prominently on the sides.