N&W MW #526632

: Lincoln, IL. Sep. 12, 2019

This boxcar still with roofwalk is found at the siding in Lincoln, Illinois.
Barely read markings indicate this car as Norfolk & Western Railway maintenance of way equipment #526632. Built date 5-67 given at the consolidated stencil suggests when it was reassigned. The original number is coming to the surface as rust but not enough to read.

According to the Norfolk and Western Historical Society web site, N&W class BS #526632 was built by N&W East End Car Shops at Roanoke, VA in 1929 as N&W #50158[1]. It was converted to MOW service at Frankfort, IN in 1967. It was last seen in service at Decatur, IL in 1994.

N&W 50000 – 50499 series boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for July 1966 shows the group #50000 to 50499 with 335 cars in place, accompanied by 37 cars with the same dimensions but with the 110,000 pounds capacity, described as follows:

AAR Designation XM and description “Box, All Steel” only.

The inside length of these cars is 40 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet 4 inches, outside length 44 feet 9 inches, extreme height 15 feet 1 inch and capacity 3898 cubic feet or 100,000 pounds.

All photos are taken on Sep. 12, 2019.

[1] Norfolk & Western Historical Society web site for N&W #526632;
* 1969 photo of N&W #50064 found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;

: Lincoln, IL. Sep. 12, 2019


この貨車は、ルート66が通る、イリノイ州Lincolnの町で見つけた。

微かに見える車番から推測して、自社工場製boxcarを転用した、Norfolk & Western Railwayの事業用車両である。1929年製造というから、車齢90年だ。本線につながる側線に駐まっているものの、既に廃車処分になったものと思われる。

目を細め側面を見つめると、事業用車両の緑色塗装の下から、ずれ重なった旧レタリングや旧車番が錆として浮かび上がっている？！　ルーフ・ウォークが健在なのも嬉しいところ。台車の左右で異なるコイルバネの線径や軸箱蓋の意匠も見逃せない。