57' Reefers - Extinct?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Are 57’ reefers extinct in today’s world? If so, what year did they disappear?

2

Here’s one photographed 2 months ago:

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=armn765202&o=up

Pretty much any exisiting cars have all be rebuilt with upgraded refridgeration units, but there’s still a bunch out there.

I don’t see a lot of reefers in general where I am (or I just always miss the trains they travel on) so I’m not sure how common they are but they’re still around.

3

Still around, I seen some in a CSX train on their Lakeshore sub (Buffalo to Cleveland) last month.

4

Nope. I see them all the time on the UP. The old PFE cars have been equipped with newer refrigeration units, and are now lettered for ARMN, but seeing them is a daily occurrence.

5

Keep in mind that refrigerated traffic tends to move on certain routes and is often seasonal in nature. You may not be seeing them, but they’re out there.

6

UP’s site has a PDF on their reefer fleet and what commodities are shipped in what sized cars.

http://www.up.com/cs/groups/public/@uprr/@customers/documents/up_pdf_nativedocs/pdf_ag-prod_refrig_reeferfleet.pdf

7

Plenty of time living in the Juice Train between the bigger, newer ones.

8

Mike,One thing I’ve notice lately I been seeing more 57 and 64 foot reefers then 3-4 years ago…I also notice they seem to run in small groups consisting of 2-3…Its good to see reefers in freight trains again.

9

From what I can tell, in general the rebuilt 57 foot reefers now have trailer-nose-mounted style refrigeration units hung in the original refrigeration unit compartments, said compartments having been “skylighted” (roof panels removed). I think I first saw this sort of rebuild in the late 1990s, but I don’t have any concrete evidence at hand.

IIRC, those original refrigeration units from the late 1960s/1970s era (when the 57ft reefers were originally built) were designed to be modular and easily removable, so that if a refrigeration unit started malfunctioning it could be readily swapped out for a working replacement, and the reefer could be put back in service while the original non-working unit was repaired.

10

Here’s a shot of ARMN cars with roof panels removed:

11

I believe that was the original intent, but I suspect it was still a pretty involved project.

The units being applied recently are pretty similar to those applied to over-the-road trailers, if not identical. SATCOM data links are typical, because this allows both real-time tracking and verification of load intergrity and unit operation. RR cars typically have a larger volume than even the biggest 53’ trailers, but are better insulated so it’s probably a wash which works harder.

The real advantage in using the OTR units is the service network covers the nation. If there’s a problem, your friendly Thermo-King or Carrier tech will soon arrive with the service truck and set things right. Access to parts is easy and there is relaly very little additional training likely needed to work on the cars vs the trailer units.

12

This thread from the Diesel Stop forum has an 1960s image (I think the thread OP is a bit off on his years) of a modular generator unit being forklifted into an old school refrigerator car. Yes, I realize the stencil above the compartment gives away the manufacturers of the Generator and Refrigerator Compressor units, but I believe the models numbers are:
Generator = Detroit Diesel 2-71 (you can still rent one if you want)
Refrigeration Unit = Trane Model 125ESH-6

I’ll let someone else dig up the exact specs on those components (my eyes blurred after a while searching), but apparently of the modern refrigerator cars with the “Truck-Trailer-Mount” style units, the Thermo King units seem to be SL-400e, and the Carrier Vector…I couldn’t find the model number for those units.

13

57’ reefers are some of my favorites although I prefer 70’s and 80’s and mostly use SFPE reefers.

Intermountain and Athearn Genesis have offered some modern versions as mentioned above such as ARMN, NRDX Cold Train, BNSF Late and Union Pacific ARMN:

http://www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/48823.htm

http://www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/48810.htm

http://www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/48811.htm

Here are Athearn Genesis which include modern versions:

http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=FGE+Reefer+ATHG&CatID=THRF&OA=True&PageSize=72