Wreck & MOW
Reading Company MOW Gondola, Class MWm #96313
Background & History
Car #96313 began life on the CNJ as Gondola Class GB in the number series 1001 thru 2000. The cars were rated for 70 tons and had a capacity of 1745 cu. ft. They measured 52’ 6” and were equipped with drop ends and a wooden floor.
In 1965, the Reading was in need of gondolas and a number of cars were purchased from CNJ. The cars were reconditioned, painted, renumbered, and reclassed into Class GHr. The cars were used in revenue service for a dozen years, then reassigned.
In March and April 1973, our car #96313 along with cars 96312 thru 96327 were converted to tie cars. They were again reclassed into Class MWm.
Car 96313 sits in Reading, PA circa 1973.
(Photo Courtesy Bob Gottshall collection)
Car 9631 sits at Temple, PA in 1998.
(Photo Courtesy Charles Murphy Jr., MR&RE Collection)
Car 96313 came to us thru Conrail around 1997. It was stored at Temple for a time, then moved to Leesport Yard on the Reading & Northern. Finally the car was moved to Hamburg when the RCT&HS opened the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum.
MOW Gondola 96313 is to be restored into the Reading MOW Yellow paint scheme as it was in the 1973 picture.