PRR Class G23 gondolas

G23, Photographer PRR Photo, Image from online auction, used by permission of seller.
PRR 306001G23PRR Photo

General information:

The G23 was a one-car class, PRR 306001 being the only example. With a nominal capacity of 110 tons, this car was PRR's answer to the huge N&W fleet of 90-ton battleship gons. The car ran in dedicated service between Derry, PA and Canton (Baltimore Harbor), MD for probably it's entire service life. The car was unloaded at the PRR's massive rotary coal dumper at Canton. The car was built 4/19 and was last listed in the ORER listings for 10/52. The design itself was a success, as indicated by its long service life, but the intervention of WWI and USRA control probably prevented the construction of any further cars of this class - the PRR opting instead to acquire the huge H25 fleet under USRA auspices. The G23 rolled on a pair of six-wheel trucks, a special PRR design, using six 6"x11" journals. This is the same truck design as used later on PRR class F28 flat cars, and on the six-axle tender for streamlined K4 locomotive #3768. (by Claus Schlund)

Some stats:

ClassG23
Diagram?yes
Model-
Commentsdrop bottom
Qty Built1
Built1,919
Capcy220,000
Weight74,600
Capcy box3,660
Capcy heap340
Sidessteel
Floorsteel
Endsfixed
Sillstraight
Underframestraight
I.L.48' 6"
I.W.9' 4-7/8"
I.H8' 1-1/4"
Truck center36' 5"
length over strikers50' 0"
coupled length52' 5-1/2"
panels14
height11' 6"
width extreme10' 2"

Types of trucks used

ClassCarNumbersTruck ClassTruck NameQty cars:
G23  3E-F1  
Truck data is from PRR documents circa 1940's. Other truck classes may also have been used.

Cars on the PRR roster (as listed in the Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER)):

ClassCarNumberAAR ClassPRR Oct 44PRR Oct 48PRR Apr 52PRR Oct 53PRR Oct 58PRR Oct 63PRR Apr 68
G23306001-HE111----
Roster data compiled by Rich Orr

Modeling Information:

Photos online:

Report MarkClassDescriptionLocationDatePhotographer
PRR 306001G23builders photo -?PRR photo (B&W)

Photos in print:

ClassPublicationPageCar NoSchemeLocationDateComments
G23Cars of the Pennsy50PRR 306001--9/19ME4906
G23Pennsy Power 3404PRR 306001---PRR

Equipment Diagrams online:

Class(es)tracing #View
G2360814elevation

References:

  • KEY 9/16 - PRR G23 Battleship Gondola (Schlaus, Claus)
      History, photos, plan, bibliography

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©1998-2001 Robert Schoenberg - robs@railfan.net