Photos: Opened Doors Of PFE 5706 (1951)

A photo from the Gateway To Oklahoma History website:

https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1122503/?q=fruit

Photos can be enlarged quite a bit.

There is a lot of information in this photo.

PFE 5706 is a Class R-40-23 car, first placed in service in 1947.

Note the stenciling on the doors and the printing on the boxes.

Blue Goose (American Fruit Growers Co-Op) Ventura Maid lemons in cardboard boxes. This 1951 date is a few years before Sunkist converted to cardboard shipping containers. Note the printing "One-Half Standard Box". This was the typical size when the packing houses converted to cardboard shipping containers.

Also note the printing "Experimental Container" on several boxes.

Another view:

https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1118291/m1/1/?q=fruit

Stencil: "Floor Racks In This Car Not Safe For Lift Truck Operation"

Stencil: "Air Circulating Fans"

Ventura Maid lemons were packed by the Ventura Pacific Company in Montalvo (now Ventura), CA in a packing house served by the Southern Pacific.

Crate label, pre-cardboard box

http://www.venturapacific.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/venturamaid.jpg

Bob Chaparro

Moderator

Railroad Citrus Industry Modeling Group

https://groups.io/g/RailroadCitrusIndustryModelingGroup