Maintanance of Way Cars III

Reference

Maintenance of Way Cars III by Patrick Harris

B&O/CSX #964400--- A purpose-built ballast hopper in the early merger scheme where original reporting marks were retained but the carpainted for CSX. This car restores the rule of having an MW marking on the car body. 12-01-96

B&O/Chessie #964480--- A purpose-built ballast hopper in full Chessie Cat markings. Note the altered road number and the addition of a white MW notation next to the road number. This was not unique to the B&O cars, and the C&O did it as well. CSX Gentilly Yard, 1995.

C&O/Chessie #964232--- A purpose-built ballast hopper in full Chessie Cat markings. Note the altered road number and the addition of a white MW notation next to the road number. CSX Gentilly Yard, 12-01-96.

C&O #964060--- A purpose-built ballast hopper in original 1960's "C&O For Progress" markings. Note the altered road number and the addition of a white MW notation next to the road number. CSX Gentilly Yard 02-24-96.

C&O #964009--- A purpose-built ballast hopper in original 1960's "C&O For Progress" markings. Note the altered reporting mark with non-standard stenciled C&O and the addition of a white MW notation next to the changed road number. CSX Osborne Yard, Louisville, Ky. 1994.

B&O #964485--- A purpose-built ballast hopper in original 1960's B&O capitol dome markings. Note the altered reporting mark with non-standard stenciled B&O and the addition of a white MW notation next to the changed road number. There is also a batch of lettering below the MW marking, one of which is the designation MWB (maintenance of way, ballast) for the car. It also CSX Osborne Yard, Louisville, Ky. 1994.

CSXT #943001--- A 3-bay coal hopper renumbered for MOW service. The car has markings for "TIE LOADING ONLY" and an especially tiny "MW" marking applied in the fresh black field by the reporting mark. I am unsure of the origin of these cars since only the original reporting mark has been painted over, but they appear to be former L&N cars. There is a tiny "Bethlehem Steel" logo above the center bay. CSX Gentilly Yard 02-05-97.

***Note: These X-L&N 3-bay hoppers are used to transport used/damaged ties, not new crossties. The CSX Gentilly Yard was being remodeled and a greatly enlarged TOFC/COFC area from 1996-1997, hence the profusion of different MOW equipment. The rehabilitation of yard trackage (and the fact that the yard was build on drained swamp) meant that a lot of rotted ties had to be removed, and these cars were an inexpensive way to do that.