Wreck & MOW
Reading Company MOW Flatcar, Class FMex, #96615
Background & History
Class FMe Flatcars were built in 1937 and were notable in that they were of the earliest batch of cars built using welded construction, rather than the more conventional for the time, riveted construction.
With the advent of welded rail rather than 40’ sections, the Reading decided they needed to develop a welded rail train in 1972. As is often the case, revenue cars were often modified and redeployed. In the case of the flatcars, a series of cars were modified into Class FMex, and equipped to carry the one quarter mile sections of welded rail. (The x added to the Class number indicated that the car was in non-Revenue service). Note also that one of the modifications made was to move the hand brake wheel inboard from its traditional corner location.
Plans call for the 96615 to be restored into the yellow MOW paint scheme it currently wears.
Flatcar 96615 at Temple, PA 2002.
(Photo Courtesy Mike Shirk)
As the cars grew older, and steel products became heavier and more bulky, the cars were reassigned to Maintenance of Way (MOW) service and reclassed as Class FMdx. Car 96611 came to us thru Conrail as did much of our collection. So proud that we own not one, but two “Golden Gate Cars”.
Restoration will be into its appearance during its life hauling steel to the Golden Gate Bridge.