refrigerator cars - PRRHO.com Professional Model Trains

Essentially a boxcar refrigerated, the reefer (refrigerator car) is designed to carry all perishable goods. The first refrigerator cars were being tested on the Northern Railroad in 1851, in New York state. These cars featured some type of insulation and blocks of ice to keep the contents cool. The common merchandise carried were fruits, dairy, meat, and vegetables. Many railroads put in service huge quantities of reefer cars, at least until the beginning of the sixties. Following, the increase in traffic on the road caused a significant reduction in the use of rail transport of perishable goods, especially for short and medium distances.

Refrigerators were built at the origin, with all parts of the structure made of wood. After few years, the ends, the doors and the roof were produced in steel. featuring all the american production until the end of the steam era. Railroad companies classified those type of freight cars using classification codes personalized. The Pennsylvania Railroads named its reefer cars placing them into the following classes: RA, RB, RD, RE, RF, R7, R8, R9, RX, R50, R60. Generally, almost all of the U.S. railroads and the american production companies identified their classes of refrigerator cars with the letter R.