Date
1 - 19 of 19
PFE Express Reefer in NYC Express Train
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Paul Catapano
Tony,
Are you saying that that is a “Stock” PFE Express Reefer? I have to take your word as I wouldn’t know one if it walked up and bit me. Paul Catapano Winchester, VA.
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Tony Thompson
Paul Catapano wrote:
Are you saying that that is a “Stock” PFE Express Reefer?Perhaps a poor choice of words. I only meant to say "typical" or "ordinary" or "standard." As others pointed out, it is indeed the post-1954 rebuilt type with the very narrow fascia along the top of the sides. Tony Thompson tony@signaturepress.com
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There were 300 of these PFE express reefers. You can be sure they were seen in most states at times of the year. Express reefers could be returned in freight trains with less-perishable loads or carried in freights in the off season. Tim O'Connor
On 4/11/2021 3:46 PM, Paul Catapano wrote:
Tony, Are you saying that that is a “Stock” PFE Express Reefer? I have to take your word as I wouldn’t know one if it walked up and bit me. Paul Catapano Winchester, VA. --
Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts
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Tony Thompson
Tim O'Connor wrote:
Very true, Tim, and in addition, PFE was a participant in the Railway Express pool, so that cars were moved where needed under REA direction. They really could be seen anywhere. Tony Thompson
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bill stanton
were these express reefers iced along with ordinary reefers or were they handled separately?
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Tony Thompson <tony@...>
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2021 2:29 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] PFE Express Reefer in NYC Express Train Tim O'Connor wrote:
Very true, Tim, and in addition, PFE was a participant in the Railway Express pool, so that cars were moved where needed under REA direction. They really could be seen anywhere.
Tony Thompson
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Tony Thompson
bill stanton wrote:
Yes. By which I mean, it depended. Tony Thompson
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bill stanton
please elaborate further...i'm simply trying to figure out how to handle them operationally on my railroad (modeling colton and LA circa 1947)
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Tony Thompson <tony@...>
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2021 11:16 AM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] PFE Express Reefer in NYC Express Train bill stanton wrote:
Yes. By which I mean, it depended.
Tony Thompson
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Tony Thompson
A string of express reefers might be taken over to the ice deck, if it happened to be nearby. But single cars, and cars in trains without time to wait for movement to an ice deck, would be iced right at the depot, using an elevating truck body to get ice up to the ice hatches. Photos of all this in the PFE book. Tony Thompson
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bill stanton
would express reefers have been intermingled with ordinary reefers in the icing process or kept separate?
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Tony Thompson <tony@...>
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2021 4:22 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] PFE Express Reefer in NYC Express Train
A string of express reefers might be taken over to the ice deck, if it happened to be nearby. But single cars, and cars in trains
without time to wait for movement to an ice deck, would be iced right at the depot, using an elevating truck body to get ice up to the ice hatches. Photos of all this in the PFE book.
Tony Thompson
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it depends
On 4/12/2021 7:24 PM, bill stanton wrote:
--
Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts
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bill stanton
would they ever have been iced along with ordinary reefers?
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Tim O'Connor <timboconnor@...>
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 8:59 AM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] PFE Express Reefer in NYC Express Train it depends On 4/12/2021 7:24 PM, bill stanton wrote:
-- Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts
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Todd Sullivan
Bill,
As Tony Thompson indicated, if in a passenger train and loaded, they would be iced by an ice truck with a lift body while still in the train. That was to save the time of cutting the express reefer out of the passenger train, taking it to the nearest icing facility (probably miles from the train depot), icing it, and returning it to the passenger train to continue its journey. So, it would be unlikely for a loaded express reefer to be iced with freight reefers. OTOH, if the load called for pre-icing, I imagine the express reefer could have been pre-iced at an icing facility in a freight yard with freight reefers. Tony (or others) certainly are welcome to chime in with their take on this hunch of mine. Todd Sullivan
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Tony Thompson
Todd Sullivan wrote: As Tony Thompson indicated, if in a passenger train and loaded, they would be iced by an ice truck with a lift body while still in the train. That was to save the time of cutting the express reefer out of the passenger train, taking it to the nearest icing facility (probably miles from the train depot), icing it, and returning it to the passenger train to continue its journey. So, it would be unlikely for a loaded express reefer to be iced with freight reefers. OTOH, if the load called for pre-icing, I imagine the express reefer could have been pre-iced at an icing facility in a freight yard with freight reefers. Well described, Todd. The major exception to your description was in certain early-season shipments when entire trains of express reefers were moved over the railroad. In that case, the string WAS taken to the ice deck. There are photos. But that's a special case, not typical practice. Tony Thompson
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Jeffrey White
The IC contracted with Central Illinois Public Services to provide their ice plants in Southern Illinois. In Centralia IL they had a large ice plant and platform about 3 miles South of the passenger depot in the freight yards alongside the South bound main. They iced reefers going in both directions there. CIPS also had a small ice plant uptown right behind the passenger depot.
I've circled it on this track chart. There was a track to the back of the building and I have a 1934 aerial photo of downtown Centralia that shows what appears to be an express reefer on that track. Here is the complete photo. It's a little clearer. While they had the capability to cut an express reefer out at the depot and spot it at the ice plant just behind the depot and I have a photo showing an express reefer there, I have been told they iced from a truck on the platform. Jeff White Alma, IL
On 4/13/2021 1:36 PM, Todd Sullivan via
groups.io wrote:
Bill,
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mopacfirst
There was a small ice house at the south end of the platforms, beyond the express facility, at Wichita Union Station. It was probably there for the purpose of icing passenger cars as needed. There was also a ramp right by it, for vehicular access to the platforms, which I used to drive up on when I was watching passenger trains. So if an express reefer needed icing, which was probably a rare occurrence there, it wouldn't have been hard to do.
Ron Merrick
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akerboomk
Don’t forget that many/most “larger” passenger stations would need ice for passenger car A/C (obviously depending on whether cars that used ice AC would, or could, pass thru and need it at that point). I’m sure the passenger depts. of the railroads would plan out where icing would be needed, and therefor which stations needed the facilities.
So the only additional equipment needed for express reefers would be the lift truck to get the ice up to the roof level.
-- Ken Akerboom
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bill stanton
ok its getting more clear now
at least 3 different scenarios mentioned...
thanks to all
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of mopacfirst <ron.merrick@...>
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 1:40 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] PFE Express Reefer in NYC Express Train There was a small ice house at the south end of the platforms, beyond the express facility, at Wichita Union Station. It was probably there for the purpose of icing passenger cars as needed. There was also a ramp right by it, for vehicular access to
the platforms, which I used to drive up on when I was watching passenger trains. So if an express reefer needed icing, which was probably a rare occurrence there, it wouldn't have been hard to do.
Ron Merrick
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Mobile Icing.
Bob Chaparro Hemet, CA 
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Joseph
Cool photo. Not sure OSHA would let this happen these days
On Wed, Apr 14, 2021 at 10:52 AM Bob Chaparro via groups.io <chiefbobbb=verizon.net@groups.io> wrote: Mobile Icing.
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