Head end express reefers

[CFournier]

What was carried in those refrigerated merchandise cars ahead of the passenger cars?
Chris

[Anonymous]

On what train and railroad?

[CFournier]

Let's say the Californian RR like SP, WP, ATSF in central California in the 50's

[Anonymous]

Often it was milk. Inside what looks like boxcars or reefers were actually two tanks for milk.

Other perishables often ran in "unit" trains - like reefers full of fruit from California going cross country.

Andrew

[doctorwayne]

In one of Ian Wilson's books, can't recall which one, there was a picture of a CNR express reefer being loaded with roses. It's probable that when these cars were used in passenger trains that made frequent stops, they would be used for any lcl (less than carload) freight that required refrigeration.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

Any product with high priority/value might travel in these "Express Reefers" . Today Amtrak is offering cross country reefer service with four day transit, five day availability of mercandise. I also recall that the "Silk trains" traveled in express reefers from the west coast ports to the east coast mills, not that the commodity required refrigeration, but rather that the speed of transit required equipment designed for fast passenger trains speed, which the express reefers were designed for.
Will

[csmith9474]

One of the things the almighty Santa Fe carried was strawberries.

[Anonymous]

Katy and MP carried grapefruit and oranges from the TX Rio Grande Valley. So did TNO.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CFournier

What was carried in those refrigerated merchandise cars ahead of the passenger cars?
Chris

Any perishables that were contracted for shipment or being shipped by REA. We used to see them on the PRR to St. Louis at Effingham Illinois behind a T1 or two K4's. Now that was a sight.

[jimrice4449]

We should distinguish between "normal" frt reefers that ran in frt trains and the psgr train express reefers. Out of Oxnard on the SP the first strawberries of the season would get 3 to 6 express reefers on the Coast Mail to LA where they'd be interchanged w/ the Santa Fe. The bulk of the crop would ship in stnd reefers on frt trains. Fish from the Pacific NW would be another candidate for psgr train express reefers. As mentioned above, the first fresh flowers of a given type (Lillies for Easter delivery?) would be candidates for expedited delivery. While milk would be an all year around commodity, especially in the New England/ New York State area, the cars in milk service frequently weren't a normal express reefer but were milk cars difering from express reefers in not having ice bunkers or hatches. The milk in metal cans would be pre-chilled and didn't need any special arrangement beyond insulation for the relatively short trip.

[CFournier]

Thanks to all who answered the call. I Think strawberries and roses is exactly what my train needs!!
Chris