Ben Hom wrote

This photo also shows that Fruit Growers certainly moved cars
between subsidiaries to cover traffic - FGEX, BREX, and WFEX
cars can be seen among the reefer cuts.

FGEX cars are seen in many photos of areas served by the CB&Q
and its subsidiaries C&S and FW&D, and affiliates GN and NP.
But four solid tracks of reefers in Denver on the C&S? I wonder
what that was all about? Maybe preparing for a traffic rush --
melons, peaches, potatoes? Or maybe just collecting empties
together to send homeward in blocks?

Tim O'Connor wrote:
"Nice photo! I'm very interested in FGEX 4414 (?) which appears
to be one of the X23 (R7?) rebuilds. I've seen those with NX marks
but not FGEX."

PRR Class R7 cars were purpose-built reefers and NOT rebuilt Class X23
boxcars.

Another interesting Fruit Growers car is the third cars to the right of the
R7. It appears to have 5/5/5 Murphy ends and two belt rails or sheathing
straps. I'm on the road this weekend and don't have access to my copy of
Bill Welch's FGEX handout - wonder what's the story behind that car?

This photo also shows that Fruit Growers certainly moved cars between
subsidiaries to cover traffic - FGEX, BREX, and WFEX cars can be seen among
the reefer cuts.


Ben Hom

<snip>I wonder if Byron is a nut case because he's such a good modeler, or

vice-versa?

Richard H. Hendrickson
Ashland, Oregon 97520

Richard-

I hope the good modeling follows being a nut case because I've got the
first step nailed.

Walter M. Clark
Time stopped in November 1941
Riverside, California

Nice photo! I'm very interested in FGEX 4414 (?) which appears
to be one of the X23 (R7?) rebuilds. I've seen those with NX marks
but not FGEX.

Tim, I have numerous photos of ex-R7s in FGEX service (as well as in NX
service) and will be happy to send you scans of some of the better ones.
Unfortunately, getting decent models of these interesting cars apparently
depends on Byron Rose's progress in reworking the patterns for the
Westerfield X23s, so it may not happen in my (or even your) lifetime. I
wonder if Byron is a nut case because he's such a good modeler, or
vice-versa?

Richard H. Hendrickson
Ashland, Oregon 97520

Nice photo! I'm very interested in FGEX 4414 (?) which appears
to be one of the X23 (R7?) rebuilds. I've seen those with NX marks
but not FGEX. I have a 1957 shot of FGEX 39059, brother to the
FGEX 39051 shown here -- an interesting car because it is one of
the few welded side reefers of that era. Above it, a couple of
tracks to the rear, is a similar WFEX cousin. And above that, a
couple more tracks away, a 36 foot L&N box car with a wood door.
Neat!

And check out the beautiful brake wheel on Soo 44026 in the
foreground.

Came across an interesting overall freight yard shot while
cataloging photos at the Colorado Railroad Museum Library today.
There's a high-walkway tank car in the immediate foreground, and
you're looking down on it. It's the C&S/CB&Q's Denver freight yard
with the 20th street viaduct in the background. The photo was
undated but from other envlopes in the same box could be ca. 1951.
Any date guesses are most welcome. I've put a lo-res thumbnail at:

http://home.att.net/~pullmanproject/CSYDthmb.jpg

If that piques your interest, a 2Meg hi-res scan is at:

http://home.att.net/~pullmanproject/CSYD.jpg

The original neg is 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 but the overall sharpness isn't
all that great. I tweaked the levels and contrast slightly in
PhotoShop.

Tom Madden