I've taken one of the old MDC diners, plated over the upper windows, repainted it and it is now part of my Santa Fe work train. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Are the men loading the beer Italian PWs? I did not see any other insignia or patches.

And no car number or other car info. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Or are they for lifting the blocks up to icing dock so they can be slid into the car’s bunker. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

I have read that empty west bound reeders were used to haul magazines from Chicago to LA. Think Saturday Evening Post. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

In the closest photo, lower right hand corner, there are white granules of some sort next to the bag. so probably salt. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Even the dirty laundry was transported to one of Fred's regional laundries in empty reefers. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

It appears that the brake wheels are all at about the same height above the track regardless of the height of the car. Wonder if there was a standard or regulation that set a max height for car applia

My best guess is that the bell shaped dome covers an overflow water outlet. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Could this be gauntlet track? Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Schuyler, thanks for the wild guess. Certainly better than anything I could have come up with. And a new factoid of info that I never knew about. Pat Wade

On the two Fruit Growers reefers, wonder that the little metal fixture over the doors are for? Looks like a porch light fixture, but it can't be that. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Looks like the sign on the roof says Glendale. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Perhaps some carefully applied white glue that could be painted an oily black after it has set up. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Photo 11 appears to have the Barstow Harvey House, Casa del Desierto, in the background. Great photos. Thank you. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

At this site there is an excellent article on mortuary trains. The cars appear to be coaches with a sliding door near one end and the windows plated over. Mortuary Trains Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

From the point on the hammers in the hanging tool box perhaps they are used to break up any large chunks of ice. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

Walthers has or had an oil loading rack kit. There were arms that swung over the tank car dooms to fill the cars. Perhaps one of these arms would work. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA

At the very far end of the photo note the overhead traveling crane. That probably accounts for the staggered "porches" as you go up the building. They would provide a clear landing spot as the crane's

I think I read Wilson Car Lines on the reefer next to the tender. Perhaps they are out of service and are being moved to be rebuilt. Only a guess. Pat Wade Santa Barbara, CA