Looking for MoW Gon pics

Discussion in 'Maintenance of Way' started by palallin, Oct 11, 2016.

  1. palallin

    palallin Member

    A friend of mine is looking for pics of old composite gons used in MoW service in the late '50s-'60s. He saw them carrying ties ; the sides of the gons were open so that the ties could be tossed out along the RoW.

    Does anybody have any memories of these or pics?

    Thanks,
    Steve Allen
    Near Rolls, MO
     
  2. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    As far as I know their is no photo's of those gon's. But I have thrown many ties from those Gons. They was referred to as "Chain Cars" as the chain curtains pulled back to unload the cars. I wana say they was 40 ft flats with the ends like a bulk head flat. They generally had two inner bulkheads out of steel, and the chains along both sides.
    They seem to be unique to Frisco as I have never seen them on other railroads. They was painted "DuPont Sunshine Yellow" with black lettering.
     
  3. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Joe Lovett likes this.
  4. palallin

    palallin Member

    Thanks so very much, Gentlemen!

    Would that black lettering have included just the reporting marks or something more extensive, such as a herald?

    If anything else turns up, I'd love to hear about it.
     
  5. Larry F.

    Larry F. Member

    Is this what your looking for? It's in the Molo book. Larry F.

    image.jpg
     
  6. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Larry, that is a pulpwood car. Think of the same concept but in the low sides of a gondola.
     
  7. Larry F.

    Larry F. Member

    Keith, perhaps at one time they were pulpwood cars but this is a tie car. I should have posted the caption along with the photo. Larry

    image.jpg
     
  8. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Larry's pic is of a chain car of which Bill speaks. Steve will have to clarify is query.
     
  9. palallin

    palallin Member

    Well, about the only thing I can add is that they looked like composite gons with the open sides and were in service decades prior to the 1980 conversion date for these, so I don't think these pulpwood cars are what he is looking for, but I do appreciate the pics and the caption: this is very interesting stuff.
     
  10. kenmc

    kenmc KenMc Frisco.org Supporter

    In the 1950s and 60s I used to see the composite side tie gons all along the River Division at many small town sidings, usually with a few other work cars. They were the 40 foot variety that the Frisco had many of, with the wood siding removed and only the steel side girders remaining. They were painted silver. There were no chain curtains.

    I can't believe that I don't have a photo of one somewhere; now I simply have to search and find it.

    Ken McElreath
     
  11. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    So it sounds as if we have a couple of critters out there:

    (a) The 104000-104091 "Chain Cars" converted from wood racks/bulkhead flats by the CMS in 1980, as shared by Larry, and
    (b) Demoted composite gons with the wood siding removed, which seems to fit the era that Steve has mentioned and which also seems to be our "holy grail" in terms of photographic evidence. ​

    Barring a photo, I think that Ken's description gives a pretty good idea of their appearance. Even if Ken doesn't have a photo, there surely has to be one out there somewhere, probably within the confines of these forums.

    Best Regards,
     
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  12. palallin

    palallin Member

    Thanks again, guys!
     
  13. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    The silver cars you describe, most likely were from the steel gang. They had several of those, so they just set the small machines and motor cars in them and didn't have to tie them down on flats with chains and boomers. They made for quick loading and unloading. They was short side gon's with the wood removed. Ha!
    Good information on the tie chain car's
     

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