57' Mechanical Refrigerators

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57' Mechanical Reefer

Prototype Data:  One of the greatest freight car innovations of the 20th century was the creation of the refrigerator car, commonly referred to
as a “reefer.” The ability to haul perishables such as fruits, vegetables and meat products across the country was a major factor in the development of modern America. No longer did food have to be produced close enough to urban areas, so that it could be consumed before spoiling. At the same time, areas with additional capacity for agricultural production could produce more food, since it did not have to be sold locally.
For many years, reefers relied on ice bunkers to keep loads cool. After World War II, technological advances made mechanical refrigeration practical for a freight car. In addition, a mechanical reefer could be larger than an ice reefer because of the greater cooling capabilities.
Fruit Growers Express owned the largest fleet of reefers in the East. FGE was owned by a group of ten railroads, with Atlantic Coast Line and Southern being two of the largest original owners. Many of FGE cars were built at its Jacksonville Shops, including these 57’ smooth-side mechanical reefers.

Model Features:

• Era: Mid 1960s to present
• Screw mounted trucks for optimal tracking
• Separately applied brake wheel
• Available with onboard SoundTraxx sound
• Scaled from prototype manufacturer's drawings and field measurements
• Repaints often vary by road number in the size and style of the reporting marks, car numbers and patch shapes
• Four (or more) different road numbers each except WFE
• See-through protective screens on the genset end
• Detroit Diesel 2-71 Genset visible inside
• End wall corrugation visible inside
• Inner refrigerator bulkhead
• See through crossover platforms
• Full underframe detail including Keystone cushioning, air brake reservoir, control valve, brake cylinder, brake plumbing, and fuel tank
• Body-mounted or truck-mounted brakes per prototype
• McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers
• 100-ton roller bearing trucks with electrical pickups
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
• Accurately painted and printed for prototypical realism
• Highly-detailed, injection-molded body
• Machined metal wheels
• Weighted for trouble free operation
• Wheels operate on Code 55, 70, 75 and 80 rail
• Window packaging for easy viewing
• Packaging interior safely holds the model for convenient storage
• Minimum radius: 12"
• Recommended radius: 15"

Sound Equipped Model Also Feature:

• Sound recorded from actual genset
• Sound randomly cycles on and off
• Utilizes minimum track power
• Raise and lower the volume by adjusting the potentiometer

*Union Pacific Licensed Product

Part #: Ath-11105 - Maine Central #1 - 57' Mechanical Refrigerator
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Stock Checks:

Inventory is a fluid commodity.  It changes by the hour (sometimes by the minute). To retain our pricing structure we maintain stock levels designed to turnover 6 times each year. We cannot guarantee stock status till we have an order in hand. All product is subject to prior sale. If we confirm that we have it, and, while we are waiting for the order it sells, you would be upset that we did not hold it.
We used to hold items but learned a VERY EXPENSIVE lesson. When we held items for customers’ orders, the order never materialized 80%+ of the time.  We lost out on the orders placed while the item was on hold.  Also we wasted staff time that could have been used to pull actual orders.
Since we are well known for finding older stock the fact that it may not be on our shelves at this minute does not mean we can’t get it. So, as we spell out on our terms pages, we don’t do it anymore. You may, however, call in and we will tell you if the items are available and if possible attempt to locate what we don’t have while you are on the phone.