The Pennsylvania Railroad built 1,650 of these cars in 1930 and 1931. More than 35% of the series remained in service at the time of the Penn Central merger, and a number continued generating revenue in the Conrail era. Lehigh Valley obtained 30 of the G26 class from the Pennsylvania in the early 1930s to augment its mill gondola fleet.
Operation of this model over curved trackage of less than 12½-inch radius is not recommended.
