Introduction
Not all the cars in this collection of Hocking Valley Railway photos were built by the Ralston Steel Car Co. Some must have been at the Columbus plant, where these photos were taken, for rebuilding or the adding of additional equipment.
The photographs are from the B. J. Kern collection. Photo processing and
research by William Johnson. Sources for the technical and historical
information given in the captions below are the March 1901; July, 1904; and February, 1913 editions of the
Official Equipment Register and The Hocking Valley Railway
by Edward H Miller, Table 14.18, pages 328,329.
Click on the photos to enlarge
Hocking Valley Railway 7700
A wooden sided hopper car marked "Built for the National Coal Dump Car Co. by the American Car & Foundry Co., Terre Haute, Ind". The car is stenciled "12 05" which might be its build date. One of the trucks is stenciled "DR 3 07". It must have been at Ralstons for modifications or repair.
HV 7700
Gondola;
Master Car Builders designation: GD – side dump;
Capacity: 80000 lbs.
Built: Between 1904 and 1908;
Car Number Series: Only side dump gondola with 80000 lb. capacity.
Hocking Valley Railway 7700
This
is a side view of the same car.
Hocking Valley Railway 24976
Wood car. Photo taken March 10, 1909.
HV 24976
Gondola;
Master Car Builders designation: GD – general service;
Capacity: 80000;
Built: Between 1901 and 1904;
Builder: Unknown;
Car Number Series: 24000 – 26499
Hocking Valley Railway 25560
This is a sister car to the previous. They may be getting steel under frames. Photo taken March 3, 1909.
HV 25560
Gondola;
Master Car Builders designation: GD – general service;
Capacity: 80000;
Built: Between 1901 and 1904;
Builder: Unknown;
Car Number Series: 24000 – 26499.
Hocking Valley Railway 33050
A 30 ton Hocking Valley wooden box car with steel under frame. The photo is dated December, 1909. This may have been an under frame rebuild for the Ralston Co.
Hocking Valley Railway 20323
A 57.5 ton capacity Gondola built September, 1912, by the American Car and foundry, Huntington, WV. The photo was taken at the Ralston Steel Car Co. September 26, 1912.
HV 20323
Gondola
Master Car Builders designation: GA - 4 drop doors;
Capacity: 115000 lbs.;
Built: 9-12;
Builder: American Car Foundry
Car Number Series: 20000 – 20499
Hocking Valley Railway 20654
All steel 57.5 ton capacity hopper car build by the Ralston Steel Car Co. January, 1914. Photo taken February 6, 1914.
HV 20654
Gondola;
Master Car Builders designation: GA – 4 drop doors;
Capacity: 115000 lbs.;
Built: 1-14;
Builder: Ralston;
Car Number Series: 20500 – 21499.
Hocking Valley Railway 21199
A brand new 57.5 ton steel gondola car built by Ralston steel Car Co. March 1914. Photo taken March 16, 1914.
HV 21199
Gondola;
Master Car Builders designation: GA – 4 drop doors;
Capaciy: 115000 lbs.;
Built: 3-14;
Builder: Ralston;
Car Number Series: 20500 – 21499.
