MOW Passenger Car assistance

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Well if its one idea I have it turns into 4.

Currently I am creating a MOW train for my layout and need some help. I acquired a picture awhile ago of a Maintenance of Way car that was converted from a Milwaukee Road Dining car!! My curiosity is what would this car be used for? Did they rip out the tables and everything and use it for a workshop car, or what did railroads use them for. The picture shows all the windows in tact and not boarded up or anything, and the car was coupled to other former passenger cars taht were repainted for MOW service.

Any help is appreciated!

O and if you are wondering about the projects Im working on here they are in no particular order.

  1. Milwaukee Road MOW passenger car (The one Im wondering how to model).

  2. Milwaukee Road Bunk Car (I bought a cheap used and abused wood reefer that Im going to paint Milw Rd gray and make it a bunk car.

  3. Milwaukee Road Transfer caboose. (Near completion, I have to sometime finish adding the handrails and heralds, and add the hobo sitting on the steps!)

  4. A Milwaukee Road Tank Car. Originall I was just going to paint black over the markings on the tank car and add a few heralds, but from pictures I have seen these tank cars held water and were a box car red color.

My main railroad is Milwaukee Road if you havent guessed!!

DON

2

Don –

There’s a photo of Milwaukee Road outfit car # X792 on page 103 of Vol. 1 of the “Milwaukee Road Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment.” The car is painted entirely gray, with white lettering. According to the caption, the car formerly was diner # 5115, and it continued to serve as a “work diner” until scrapped in June 1957.

3

Can’t tell you about the seating accomadatiuons but the crews have to eat somewhere. I’d bet someone at the historical society could tell you in a heartbeat.

4

Most diners transferred to MOW service continued in use as diners. Baggage cars were generally tool cars anf Coaches were generally converted to other uses such as tool cars as well. Sleeping cars ended up as bunk cars and the other facrtor was were the cars assigned to work train service or were they assigned to wreck train service. Wreck train equipment was kept ready to go at one or two hours notice while their was no urgency with MOW equipment.