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Micro-Trains - 69010 - Reefer, 50 Foot, Mechanical - Western Fruit Express - 837

2  of these sold for an average price of: 9.579.572 of these sold for an average price of: 9.57
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N Scale - Micro-Trains - 69010 - Reefer, 50 Foot, Mechanical - Western Fruit Express - 837
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Stock Number69010
Secondary Stock Number069 00 010
BrandMicro-Trains
ManufacturerKadee Quality Products
Body StyleMicro-Trains 069 Reefer Steel Mechanical 51 Foot
Prototype VehicleReefer, 50 Foot, Mechanical (Details)
Road or Company NameWestern Fruit Express (Details)
Reporting MarksWFEX
Road or Reporting Number837
Paint Color(s)yellow, bcr ends
Coupler TypeMT Magne-Matic Knuckle
Wheel TypeInjection Molded Plastic
Multipack ID Number69012B
Release Date1989-04-01
Item CategoryRolling Stock (Freight)
Model TypeReefer
Model Subtype51 Foot
Model VarietyMechanical, Steel, Riveted Side
Prototype RegionNorth America
Prototype EraNA Era IV: 2nd Gen Diesel (1958 - 1978)
Scale1/160
Track GaugeN standard



Prototype History:
The purpose of a mechanical reefer is to keep perishable items cold. Early reefers were of all wood construction and used ice for cooling. By the 1940s, new reefers were being built entirely of steel. Insulating techniques improved to the point where economical refrigeration could be accomplished using steel side plates in place of wood sheathing. Fifty foot mechanical reefers date back to at least the late 50s / early 60s.

The mechanical reefers could keep a more regular temperature, and often times colder than what the ice bunker cars were capable of. Initially mechanical reefers were used primarily in frozen food service. This would soon change as mechanical refrigeration began to replace ice-based systems. Soon after, mechanical refrigeration units replaced the “armies” of personnel required to re-ice the cars.
Road Name History:
Western Fruit Express (WFE) was a railroad refrigerator car leasing company formed by the Fruit Growers Express and the Great Northern Railway on July 18, 1923 in order to compete with the Pacific Fruit Express and Santa Fe Refrigerator Despatch in the Western United States. The arrangement added 3,000 cars to the FGE's existing equipment pool. It is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF), the Great Northern's successor.
The success of the WFE led to the creation of the Burlington Refrigerator Express (BREX) in May 1926.
Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.
Manufacturer Information:
Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.
In October 1990 Kadee separated in two companies, with the newly created Micro-Trains® Line Co. continuing the Z, Nn3, and N Scale product ranges, with Kadee retaining the HO range.
Item created by: Lethe on 2015-05-31 17:46:30. Last edited by CNW400 on 2020-10-01 16:06:49

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