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MDC Roundhouse 50'0" Express Reefer Kit

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  • Member since
    January 2013
  • 176 posts
MDC Roundhouse 50'0" Express Reefer Kit
Posted by Run Eight on Monday, November 20, 2017 2:44 PM

The Roundhouse Steam Era wood sided ends, sides and roof kit has been out of production for many years now.

Presently it is offered in the Athearn R-T-R Line as "Roundhouse Line".

Specifically, was there a prototype of this specific car, with the door dimensions of 4'0" wide and around 5'5" height?

Would kind of be hard to load and unload such a car with this door height, as you would be constently hitting the crainium.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, November 20, 2017 3:18 PM

I don't see the door size mentioned on any of the reefers, 50', 40' or 36', wood or steel.

Your talking about the 50' express reefer, it looks like a plug door, of normal size, whatever those dimensions are, as I've never measured one.

What am I missing?

Mike.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, November 20, 2017 4:10 PM

Run Eight

Specifically, was there a prototype of this specific car, with the door dimensions of 4'0" wide and around 5'5" height?

 

I believe it's a model of a PFE wood express reefer.  If it is the door opening is 5' wide and 6'- 1/2" tall.  That is a pretty typical door size.  So, worst case is you duck your head passing through.

REA had about a zillion express reefers.  Door width was either 4' or 5'.  Height ranged from 5'-8 1/2" to 6'-5"

 

Ed

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Monday, November 20, 2017 4:14 PM

Bigger door = bigger loss of cold air. Wooden iced reefers generally had small doors which could be sealed tightly, to keep as much of the cold air in as possible. 

Not sure if the MDC car was based on a specific car, but many railroads had very similar express reefers in the 1910's - 1950's period.

Stix

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