Reefer, 76 Foot, Cryogenic, Gunderson

History: In 1985, Cryo-Trans, Inc. entered the shipping world on American railroads. On August 12, 1986 a patent was filed for a Cryogenic Refrigeration System. Work began on CRYX No. 1200 in June 1987 at the Greenbrier Rail Services facility in Portland, Oregon. On July 1, the outer shell for the car was completed. The car was then sent to Gunderson Rail Services in Finley, Washington for work on the interior, cryogenic system, paint, and decals. On November 10, the patent for the cryogenic system was approved (Pat. No. 4,704,876). A Canadian patent was also filed by Cryo-Trans that year, but was not approved until December 18, 1990 (Pat. No. C 127784).

Cryogenic reefers work by having a cryogenic liquid (CO2 I believe) injected into the car, which circulates inside the walls, roof, and floor to keep things frozen.

Railroad/Company: Gunderson traces its roots to 1919 when Chet Gunderson opened Wire Wheel Sales and Service Company of Portland, Oregon. His brother, Al Gunderson joined in 1923 and shortly thereafter Gunderson Brothers was born. They became a leading steel fabricator and manufactured thousands of vital ship components during World War II. They also built lifeboats and life rafts: 3,600 by 1945.

Peace-time barges began in 1949 and the first order of railcar underframes came in 1958. In 1985, The Greenbrier Companies acquired the former Gunderson Brothers operations from FMC Corporation and restored the Gunderson name to the Portland waterfront. Since that time, Gunderson has established itself as a leader in engineering and manufacturing railcars and marine barges.

As of 2018, Greenbrier's Gunderson division is one of the largest producers of intermodal railcars.