Former Pipe Gon and its Trucks

I am absolutely in agreement with Earl on this one. I think it was a mistake to alter this car as they did. Basically, it has destroyed its considerable historical integrity and value. I find this even more troubling when I read there were standard gauge box car frames available in Antonito that could have been used instead. I know that the NM State Historical Preservation Group and maybe some Colorado equivilant provides oversight on structures on the railroad-- is there nothing that oversees rolling stock? Clearly, there should be.

Now that the damage has been irreparably done, maybe there could be something good salvaged from this little affair. What I am thinking of is that when these gons were converted, they were given Andrews trucks from the scrapped 5900 34' stock cars. Now that it is no longer the converted pipe gon it once was, why not take the Andrews trucks out from under this car and put them under the stock car #5995 that the Friends are going to start restoring this year? The rider gon could get some of the trucks freed up from the UTLX cars after the truck swap with Montana. After all, this set of trucks belong under a 5900 stock car rather than a rider gon that has been modified beyond recognition and has no further historic value. As far as I know, the Friends did not have any correct D&RGW Andrews trucks lined up for the #5995-- just some close copies. This would at least provide a correct set of trucks for the restored #5995.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2009 05:50PM by Bill M..