Express Reefers like the MDC model weren't like regular reefers. Since they were designed for use in passenger trains, they had to have special trucks to allow them to roll at high speeds, and had to have steam lines to allow steam from the engine to be passed through to the passenger cars behind them in the train.
Express/Mail trains made a lot of money for the railroads, and even if fairly unknown to the general public compared to the railroad's "name trains", they often were considered the highest priority trains on the railroad.
I'd guess that cars similar to the MDC car would have been in use from the early '20s into the '60s.
I always thought that the MDC car looked too low, at least in comparison to the prototype cars which I saw running locally.I re-worked Athearn's express reefer into a closer representation of the ones used by the CNR...
I also converted a Train Miniature reefer into an express car, mostly by replacing the original trucks with Athearn express trucks, and lettering it for one of my freelance roads...
This one (of two) was originally an Athearn wood reefer. I replaced the steel ends with wood (Evergreen scribed siding), added an older style scratchbuilt roof, at the same time eliminating the hatches for the ice bunkers. It's now an insulated express car, used mainly for transporting fresh fish, which ships in open boxes, top-iced. These cars also got Athearn express trucks, and fishbelly underframes from Athearn 40' flatcars...
Athearn's milk cars apparently didn't sell too well here in Ontario, as most were lettered for U.S. dairies. The situation must have been especially bad for the hobbyshop which I normally frequented, as the cars eventually went on sale at prices I deemed reasonable - they very seldom took such drastic action, so I grab a couple. I stripped the lettering and paint, and re-did them as free-lance insulated express cars, supposedly no longer equipped with their original milk tanks...
Wayne
They were typically used in passenger trains. They were rarely used in a railroad's "name" train. They were not just used as refrigerator cars, but also were used to carry cargo like magazines. Without ice.
I agree that they were largely used in heavyweight consists. But I'm sure, on occasion, they would appear mixed with lightweights.
Without getting into some research, I would think they'd be running into the fifties. They replaced similar looking cars with truss-rod underframes. So I'd guess they showed up in the twenties, or so.
They'd never be used in the Empire Builder or the Broadway Limited. Heavyweight or lightweight.
They'd likely show up in "The Fast Mail" or "#38".
I'd say they were VERY RARE in a freight. If they had a load, they ran in a passenger train. If they were empty, I expect the same. They were passenger equipment, after all; and I expect they' show up in a freight about as often as any other passenger car. Which is pretty much never.
The model is wood-bodied. I think it was in the fifties that there were a bunch of steel-bodied express reefers built. Which would have heralded the retirement of the "woodies".
Ed
Hello, I hope this note finds all well. I was just curious what era the Roundhouse 50' wood Express reefers were used? Would I be correct to assume they were used on passenger consists? They seem "early" .....possibly on heavyweight consists?
Thanks for any and all input. All my best, Eric (rustintampa)