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REA Express Pool Reefers
Revised 4/6/01
Wooden Car on Steel underframe:
REX 298, Dean Hale Collection, from The Warbonnet, 2/97
Athearn model.
The wood cars on steel underframe were the standard prior to WW2. Cars included:
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10-151 |
48'11: |
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155-217 |
53'2" |
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1101-1167 |
53'2" |
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275-473 |
53'6" |
All of the above were produced by American General.
During WW2, another 346 were leased from General American, numbered 1200-1651. Many of these continued in service through the early 60s. In 1965, only 4 wooden reefers remained on the roster.
The Athearn reefer above is a reasonable model. The end eaves are incorrect along with a few other details, but well weathered and viewed from 3' away it looks good.
Steel Reefers: 6100 Series
Branchline Ad
The first all steel welded express reefers were 500 AC&F cars, number 6100-6599, built in 1947. They measured 54'11". These were flush welded so that seams were not apparent.
Branchline has announced such cars due in early 2001. Sunshine Models also has a resin kit available.
Steel Reefers: 6100 Series
The last series of cars built for REA in 1958, numbered 6900-7899, were riveted all steel cars measuring 54'2".
Leased Railroad Reefers.
General American, Great Northern, Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Santa Fe, and Chicago Freight Car Leasing all owned cars that ran with the REX marks under lease. Other cars from 6 railroads operated in the pool under lease but under their railroad's reporting marks (ACL, MoPac, PFE, PRR, StLSF, Wabash). Any of these might show up on a Santa Fe train.
Santa Fe leased cars:
The first ATSF leased cars were 53' wooden on steel underframe, 4000-4049. These were built by General American in 1923.
Between 1934 and 36, Topeka Shops sheathed these cars.
Topeka totally rebuilt these in 1952 to all steel with roller bearing trucks.
REX/Santa Fe 4034, Dallas, circa 1965, Dean Hale collection, from The Warbonnet, 2/97
Santa Fe added all steel cars 4050-4099 in 1953. These were also 53' cars.
REX/Santa Fe 4073, from The Warbonnet, 2/97, Kansas State Historical Society.
Converted Troop Sleepers:
REA express reefer, one of 500, 6100-6599, converted from troop sleepers. Photo 6/50 by W. C. Whittaker, from Railway Prototype Cyclopedia, Vol. 5.
REX 6687, A. Dean Hale collection, from The Warbonnet, 2/97
1962, REA reefer 6686, former troop sleeper at Dearborn station, Santa Fe All the Way Vol. 1, p.70. (This is a steel car even though the scan makes it look like a wooden product.)
Railway Express had three series of these cars. 6600-6799 had traditional reefer doors while 6800-6879 had inside doors. The first series dated from the early 50s, the second series from 1962. The last series were 8200-8299 with sliding doors. All were off the roster by 1970.
In HO, Cannonball Car Shops makes plastic kits for the sleepers and express car conversions ($26.95). Central Hobby Supply makes etched-brass/resin kits for the NYC-style troop sleepers-turned-express cars ($45). Rumors say a new plastic model is on the way, possibly 2002. Precision makes some in O scale for $341 each.
1957 General American Reefers, 7400-7899
REX 7344
Santa Fe All the Way Vol. 1, p.73, 1963 view at Kansas City of #7 Fast Mail with REA reefer.
Santa Fe All the Way Vol. 1, p. 108, #8 Fast Mail in 1965 with a REA reefer.
Resources:
Ellington, Frank, & Joe W. Shine. Head End Cars. Highland Ranch, CO: Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society, 1999.
Miller, Andy. Steel Railway Express Reefer. Model Railroader, January 1989, p. 116.
Neubauer, Eric. REA Express Refrigerator Cars 7400-7899. Railroad Model Craftsman, September 1992, p. 68.
Roseman, V. S. Railway Express Cars: An Update. Model Railroading, April, 1991.
Roseman, V. S. Model Railroading's Guide to the Railway Express. 1998. ISBN: 0961269251.
Ryczkowski, John J. A Modeler's History of Railway Express, Part 1, The Prototype Cars. Model Railroading, March, 1987p. 38-44.
Switzer, Mont. Head-End Equipment, REA Reefer Detailing. Mainline Modeler, October, 1988.
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