http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWg8rr3r39Y&feature=related
They’re on the back of the AMTRAK. That sucker is flying!
They’re Materials Handling Cars – they carry mail, packages, and high-priority freight deliveries.
Those were actually Amtrak Express refers like this one here
They are basicaly like MHC cars but they are refridgerated, since they are refredgerated Im not sure what they would carry. Maybe mail that needs to be kept cold?[;)]
Are they regularly scheduled on trains, or just when they are needed?
What train were they on?
From the video info on youtube that was the southwest cheif in april 2005.
Im not sure about when those cars run, probably when ever there is a need for them becase most Amtrak trains I see don’t have them, unless they stopped that service like they did with the roadrailers.
Joe
It definitly is mail for delivery on a cold day in h***.
Actually it is Southern California Fruit and Lettuce from the central coast area around Salinas to the midwest or maybe even going through to the east coast. There has been some recent talk about lettuce being trucked from the Salinas area to LA for shipment by rail east. Apparently UP rates direct from Salinas are to high.
Al - in - Stockton
Did anybody else notice the name of the video for the BNSF train at Modesto?
I think they were also used to ship fruit from the North Pacific Coast, and probably lasted longer in that service than anywhere else on the system.
There were 111 of these cars, AMTK series 74001-74111, rebuilt in 2001. They originated in PFE (later SPFE) series 458701-459400 (class R-70-20). They were later sold to Fruit Growers Express, becoming FGMR series 13000-13449; they were among over 200 that later went to the BN (BNFE series 13000-13449); it was from the BNFE series that they were rebuilt and given these garish-looking refrigeration units.
I would assume that they’re mothballed somewhere now–possibly being outfitted with shackles at Beech Grove. [}:)]