HO GEN 57' FGE Mechanical Reefer, BNFE 'White' #19716

57’ MECHANICAL REEFER FEATURES:

Available with onboard SoundTraxx sound

Scaled from prototype manufacturer’s drawings and field measurements

Repaints often vary by road number in the size and style of the reporting marks, car numbers and patch shapes

See-through protective screens on the reefer end

End wall corrugation visible inside

Inner refrigerator bulkhead

See through end platforms

Two different exhaust stack types: straight pipe with “flapper” or T-shaped “smokejack” per prototype and era

Full underframe detail including Keystone cushioning, air brake reservoir, control valve, brake cylinder, brake plumbing, and fuel tank

Factory applied end ladders and door closure rods

Trainline hoses with silver ends

Three different coupler cut lever styles per prototype

Body-mounted or truck-mounted brakes per prototype

McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers

100-ton roller bearing trucks with rotating bearing caps

Fully-assembled and ready-to-run

Accurately painted and printed for prototypical realism

Highly-detailed, injection-molded body

Machined metal wheels with RP25 contours

Weighted for trouble-free operation

Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:

Sound recorded from actual reefer unit

Sound randomly cycles on and off

Utilizes minimum track power

Volume can be manually adjusted on the sound board

PRIMED FOR GRIME MODELS FEATURE:

Duplicated look and feel of “In Service” equipment

Faded base colors matched to the prototype

Perfect starting point for adding grime and rust

PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:

One of the greatest freight car innovations of the 20th century was the creation of the refrigerator car, commonly referred to as a “reefer.” The ability to haul perishables such as fruits, vegetables and meat products across the country was a major factor in the development of modern America. No longer did food have to be produced close enough to urban areas, so that it could be consumed before spoiling. At the same time, areas with additional capacity for agricultural production could produce more food, since it did not have to be sold locally.

For many years, reefers relied on ice bunkers to keep loads cool. After World War II, technological advances made mechanical refrigeration practical for a freight car. In addition, a mechanical reefer could be larger than an ice reefer because of the greater cooling capabilities.

Fruit Growers Express owned the largest fleet of reefers in the East. FGE was owned by a group of ten railroads, with Atlantic Coast Line and Southern being two of the largest original owners. Many of FGE cars were built at its Jacksonville Shops, including these 57’ smooth-side mechanical reefers.