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Reefer, 40 Foot, Steel

Vehicle - Rail - Rolling Stock (Freight) - 40 Foot, ice, Steel
URTX #37144 - Union Refrigerator Car 1948 American Car & Foundry 40
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NameReefer, 40 Foot, Steel
RegionNorth America
CategoryRail
TypeRolling Stock (Freight)
SubTypeReefer
Variety40 Foot, ice, Steel
ManufacturerVarious (Details)
EraNA Era III: Transition (1939 - 1957)



History: A refrigerator car (or “reefer”) is a refrigerated boxcar (US) or van (UIC), a piece of railroad rolling stock designed to carry perishable freight at specific temperatures. Refrigerator cars differ from simple insulated boxcars and ventilated boxcars (commonly used for transporting fruit), neither of which are fitted with cooling apparatus. Reefers can be ice-cooled, come equipped with any one of a variety of mechanical refrigeration systems, or utilize carbon dioxide (either as dry ice, or in liquid form) as a cooling agent. Milk cars (and other types of “express” reefers) may or may not include a cooling system, but are equipped with high-speed trucks and other modifications that allow them to travel with passenger trains.

By the 1940's, new reefers were being built entirely of steel. Insulating techniques improved to the point where economical refrigeration could be accomplished using steel side plates in place of wood sheathing. Cars with steel roofs and sides were more durable and required fewer repairs.

The General American Transportation Corporation built several 40' steel reefer for the Union Refrigerator Transit Line (URTX) from the late 1940's into the 1950's.
This reefer was 40' long & weighted 61,500 lbs. The car is a steel bodied reefer with iced bunkers at each end. These ice bunkers hold 10,400 lbs. of chunk ice or 11,500 lbs. of crushed ice. Ice stations were located every 100-150 miles along the railroads main line to replace the melted ice. In the winter, charcoal heaters could be placed in the bunkers to keep the cargo from freezing. Fans are located in the floor at each end to circulate air and keep an even temperature throughout the car. Typical cargo would be fresh fruit, vegetables or eggs.

American Car & Foundry (ACF Industries) also built 40' reefer for several companies.
Railroad/Company:
This set of items is comprised of more than one name. Please look at the component items for details on the specific roadnames and/or manufacturers.

Item Links: We found: 3 different collections associated with Rail - Rolling Stock (Freight) - 40 Foot, ice, Steel
Item created by: Alain LM on 2018-06-22 15:16:38. Last edited by Alain LM on 2018-06-22 15:51:53

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