Vehicle - Rail - Rolling Stock (Freight) - Reefer - 50 Foot, Mechanical

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.

Railroad/Company: This set of items is comprised of more than one name. Please look at the component items for details on the specific roadnames and/or manufacturers.

Item Links: We found: 2 different collections associated with Rail - Rolling Stock (Freight) - Reefer - 50 Foot, Mechanical

• Collection N Scale Model Trains: 526 different items.
• Collection Z Scale Trains: 14 different items.