Cost of PFE Cars

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

Most of the reefers on the market are of PFE prototypes. Not surprising, since PFE owned well over 38,000 reefers in 1950 (over 1/3 of the total number of reefers in the USA!). Here's a list of what's available in HO:

40' WOOD:
Athearn 5200-series: PFE R-40-24
Red Caboose 4001-series: PFE R-40-4
Sunshine 25.4-25.34: PFE R-30 & R-40-9
Tichy 4024: PFE R-40-4 (sold RTR by Intermountain)
Westerfield 4901: PFE R-30-5

40' STEEL:
Athearn 1599-series: PFE R-40-23
Intermountain-41700 series: PFE R-40-23

50' WOOD:
Sunshine 25.1-25.3: PFE R-70-2
F&C 1070: PFE R-50-class
Walthers 5472: PFE R-50-class

50' STEEL:
Athearn 1624-series: PFE R-50-6 and R-70-8 classes
Sunshine 46.1-46.6: PFE R-40-10

If you look hard enough, you can find all of these cars for under $25. Be advised that Walthers, F&C and Sunshine are resin kits, and the Tichy car is an undecorated plastic kit (but comes with decals). Also be advised that the Athearn cars are "representative", in that while the models are OK representations of real cars, their detailing is crude and well behind the curve. Their strongest point is that the kits (good luck finding any) will only run $6-$10.

Also 57' STEEL:
Athearn 5460 series: PFE R-70-20 class

[AntonioFP45]

Forgot to mention that I may experiment and install "See Thru" grill on one of my Athearn 50ft. steel reefers. I've seen mesh/grill material at my LHS that looks similar to the refrigeration unit grills.

10-4!

[Anonymous]

Ebay for the cars. I just was bidding in an auction for PFE SIngle, Double Herald and WP/PFE 12 packs of RED Caboose woodsided reefer kits. They all went in the $180.00 range. I got some NRC /PFE's for 100.00 for 12. All still way under your 25.00 per car limit. There is a set of 12 Intermountain single herald PFEs on right now for bid. With the exception of the Athearn and Walthers, most of the kits Orson mentions are craftsman, high detail kits that will take more time than the Athearns, but they do make very nice models.

If you are patient , you can find what you want on Ebay at a decent price.

Guy

[orsonroy]

Most of the reefers on the market are of PFE prototypes. Not surprising, since PFE owned well over 38,000 reefers in 1950 (over 1/3 of the total number of reefers in the USA!). Here's a list of what's available in HO:

40' WOOD:
Athearn 5200-series: PFE R-40-24
Red Caboose 4001-series: PFE R-40-4
Sunshine 25.4-25.34: PFE R-30 & R-40-9
Tichy 4024: PFE R-40-4 (sold RTR by Intermountain)
Westerfield 4901: PFE R-30-5

40' STEEL:
Athearn 1599-series: PFE R-40-23
Intermountain-41700 series: PFE R-40-23

50' WOOD:
Sunshine 25.1-25.3: PFE R-70-2
F&C 1070: PFE R-50-class
Walthers 5472: PFE R-50-class

50' STEEL:
Athearn 1624-series: PFE R-50-6 and R-70-8 classes
Sunshine 46.1-46.6: PFE R-40-10

If you look hard enough, you can find all of these cars for under $25. Be advised that Walthers, F&C and Sunshine are resin kits, and the Tichy car is an undecorated plastic kit (but comes with decals). Also be advised that the Athearn cars are "representative", in that while the models are OK representations of real cars, their detailing is crude and well behind the curve. Their strongest point is that the kits (good luck finding any) will only run $6-$10.

[fec153]

athearn r-t-r #7553 , bb 1636 , set # 2911.
r-t-r has boxcarred roof. bb kits roof is silver. both have roof walk.
Flip

[AntonioFP45]

Athearn made the 50ft. mechanical reefer in PFE. Was Blue Box. I bought one in the 80s and another one just 3 years ago. Should still be available on some store shelves.

I've modified one and am working on the other by removing the roofwalks, filling the holes with putty, sanding and re-painting the roof Santa Fe silver to give it a late "1960s" look.

I also paint the refrigeration unit grills a charcoal "gray-black" to resemble the dirt and grime that collects on them.

[ericsp]

How do we know he is not looking for mechanical reefers? Athearn is schduled to produce its 57' mechanical reefers in Blue Box kits later this year. They have a couple decorated for UPFE (one in orange), however, there is no PFE or SPFE. Microscale makes decals. I am not sure if any of the PFE Athearn RTR cars are still available.

[Anonymous]

Intermountain.

Some are OOP. Good Luck in finding them. You can find 4 of mine being hauled in the railroad images below.

[Don Gibson]

INTERMOUNTAIN made a beaut!
Good looking
Good roller's
Hauled poduce out of Southern Cal. on the SP & UP.

There are 3 for sale on E Bay now @ $22. Current dealer price $29.

[Anonymous]

Does any one konw where I can find Pacific Fruit Express cars in the $25 range?
-Jordan
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