I think this was before 1929. For PullMAN. Wagner may have used it before Pullman. and Pullman got it when it absorbed Wagner. I believe I have seen pictures of wood sleepers with ice air conditioning. Pullmann had a fleet of steel sleepers by 1910 and the opening of Pennsylvania Station, but may have continued to build woodies until 1914. More likely that 1929 was the date when all or nearly all Pullmans were so equipped.
One other comment. We have lots of nostalgia for the great all-Pullman luxury trains of the past, but forget that Pullman service was also excellent and insured comfort for Pullman passengers on ALL trains that carried Pullmans. If the railroad did not provide a diner for all the passengers on the train, a buffet-sleeper or something from Pullman would be included so that passengers would not go hungry. On the worst trains that carried Pullman sleepers, of course the contrast between the comfort of the Pullman and the hardship endured by coach passengers was greatest.
As I said before, there were various attempts before 1930 to apply air conditioning or at least an air cooling system in Pullmans and other passenger cars. The 1929 date is attributed to the installation of the first successful ice block air conditioning system in a Pullman. By the early 1930’s the major push to install air conditioning systems (be it ice block, steam injection or mechanical) in heavyweight Pullmans had begun in earnest.
The information concerning concerning the first successful ice block air conditioning system in a Pullman was obtained from The American Railroad Passenger Car by White and Travel by Pullman by Welsh.
That car was actually beautifully restored at least twice. In an late '70s or early '80s issue, Trains magazine had a photo of the restored Dell Rapids on the way to Daytona Beach to a museum sponsored by someone tied with Coke or Pepsi.
In the mid to late '80s I was very surprised to find it in a deteriorated state in a switch yard near the Auto-Train terminal in Sanford, FL along with other old passenger equipment. I have photos from that mid-late '80s visit of the Dell Rapids with very faded paint and broken windows–figured it would end up being scrapped. As a matter of fact, one of the old UP domes from the original AutoTrain was being scrapped on site while I was taking photos.
My Dad was a fan of the Johnny Cash railroad songs. I often heard the Orange Blossom Special but didn’t know if it was a real train or not so thx to all for the information.
And also thx for putting up the picture of the boxcar with the name.