ATSF Mechanical Temperature Control Refrigerator Cars

 Greetings All,

ATSF Mechanical Temperature Control Refrigerators

and a Burlington Northern RBL Boxcar

A search for the distinctive ATSF MTC reefers recently bore fruit for me to add three ATSF Mechanical Temperature Control 50' refrigerator cars and one BN/Western Fruit Express RBL to my model railroad fleet. All of the models are Athearn Ready to Run models that come with metal wheelsets and knuckle couplers..

SFRC 51398 and RBBN 64263.

SFRD 2103 and SFRP 2194.

I've been looking to add the MTC reefers to my fleet for sometime and was happy to find these three in new or like new condition for very reasonable prices from an online seller. The RBBN Burlington Northern-Western Fruit Express RBL adds another WFE car to the existing fleet.

Prototype Information

The following prototype information was provided by Eric Hiser, author of the long running Transportation Series in the Operations Special Interest Group official magazine The Dispatcher's Office. Where appropriate are links to photos of the below mentioned freight cars.

SFRD = marks used on both ice bunker and mechanical cars until 1963, when mechanical changed to SFRP.

SFRC = Mechanical refrigerator car with load dividers starting in 1955.

SFRP = Mechanical refrigerator car without loaders or load dividers starting 1963.

Others that you may see:

SFRB = Insulated car starting 1955

SFRE = Insulated car with load dividers starting in 1962

SFRA = Insulated car without load divers in 1962.

SFRM = Mechanical car in meat service starting in 1962 (meat service = meat rails)

SFRF = Liquid nitrogen car.

SFRD cars would be mostly ice bunker or mechanical cars (prior to 1963) assigned to fruit and vegetable service.

SFRP cars would likely be similar but with a broader variety of loads after 1963.

The SFRC unit is likely at Rr-89 and the SFRP is likely an Rr-60.  The SFRD is likely a foobie number.  I don't see class assignment information for these two classes so I don't specifically know what they were used for.

Additional Prototype Information

A 1971 freight schedule and total car count for the ATSF showed that this railroad had 75,246 freight cars, piggyback trailers and containers in service. Of these were 9,588 reefers with 3,594 Mechanical Temperature Control refrigerator cars. 3,298 SFRC, 11 SFRMs, 289 SFRPs, 4 SFRF.

The ATSF also rostered 1,922 refrigerated 40' trailers.

SFTZ 40' standard trailer, August 1965.

Other Uses

Protective Heater Service

When thinking of Ice reefers, Mechanical Refrigerator or Mechanical Temperature Control cars I've looked at them for solely keeping the cars lading cool, cold or frozen. In the Eric Hiser Transportation Series article in the October 2024 Dispatcher's Office he focuses on Protective Heater Service which opened up some additional movements for these types of cars on the layout.

Ice bunker type reefers would us use charcoal briquettes, fuel oil or alcohol liquid fuel heaters to keep their loads from freezing. Mechanical Refrigerators use diesel fuel to power the temperature control units.

Heater Territories

Heater territories encompassed much of the Northern and Central states. Heater territory 1 encompassed the northwest and midwestern states and heater territory 2 covered the northeast.

Date Range

Carrier Protective Service ran from October 15th to April 15th inclusive. The mechanical control cars in service on the layout between these dates could be used to move freight that needs to be protected from the cold or heat or both. 

New Traffic

Shippers

Shippers requesting these cars during the above timeframe would be Drywell Inks to protect the water based ink from freezing which it does at around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Schaefer Brewery to protect the one beer to have when having more than one from freezing at around 28 degrees.

Two ATSF reefers are spotted at Drywell Inks for loading.

New Traffic

Consignees

Consignees receiving these cars during the above timeframe could be

Neal's Lumber & Hardware, American Hardware Supply, Montgomery-Ward when receiving latex paint which freezes at around 32 degrees.

Lightning Press, Berk Enterprises when receiving water based ink.

Another ATSF reefer delivers latex paint to Neal's Lumber & Hardware.

Model Information

Freight Car Anomalies

When getting these cars ready for service I noted that all cars were in the Athearn RTR line but each car had different types of screws holding the trucks in place and the couplers varied from EZ Mate semi scale to EZ Mate couplers without springs.

The four new freight cars have received a shot of Testor's Dullcote,  Kadee couplers, and the trucks and wheel faces are painted flat black. The cars are now ready for revenue service on the layout.

The ATSF Mechanical Temperature Control Refrigerator cars are classified as RPs. Boxcars with or without ventilation but with mechanical means of temperature control by means other that the cars axle(s). Note these cars have fuel tanks for the diesel operated temperature control units located inside the car above them.

A close up of the SFRP 2194 showing the large ATSF herald with Mechanical Temperature Control Car in small writing to the left. Note the vents for the refrigeration unit to the left. 

SFRC 51398 is a rib sided car with pretty much the same paint and lettering that includes the ATSF Ship and Travel SANTA FE all the way slogan.

SFRD 2103 has a smaller ATSF herald, the same slogan in different lettering and a black roof.

On the other side of the car is "The Route Of El Capitan" slogan. The white marking on top of the car above the door is the cars road number.

BN / RBBN 64263 is classified as an RBL (Reefer Bunker Less) freight car that is heavily insulated but has no means of mechanical temperature control or ventilation.

The new freight cars have been placed in Train RM-12 heading to Terminal Yard behind four GP20s. I thought this would be a good time to use that ATSF GP20 as a pool power engine.

Check out the RM-12 heading to Terminal Yard.

After arriving at Terminal Yard the new cars get moved to Bedford, NY with purloined B&O power for delivery to Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

Time to get these engines back to the engine terminal before the 16th Street Yard guys realize they are missing!!!

Watch the Bedford Turn make its run to and from Bedford.

Final Thoughts and Comments

I'd like to express a big thank you to Eric Hiser for his ongoing articles in the Dispatcher's Office magazine and taking the time to respond to my questions. The information provided in both is much appreciated and has benefitted my model railroad operations big time.

The Transportation Series Heater Protective Service article was an aha moment that gave me non traditional shippers and consignees on the layout during the timeframe this was happening. A reefer car at Drywell Inks in December no longer looks weird to me. 

The ATSF MTC cars were on my to buy list for a long time and patience finally paid off when these cars became available for very reasonable prices. The BN RBL adds another Western Fruit Express freight car to the fleet which makes a nice block of reefers when run together.

Additional Links

Operations Special Interest Group

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See You Soon!!! 

Adding More Rolling Stock Again!!!

 Greetings All,

Adding More Rolling Stock Again!!!

Hello, my name is John and I am a trainaholic... Hello John!!!

And here is more proof  just in case you doubted me... During a  recent trip to the Lindy's Booth at the Queen of Hearts Antique Mall in Buford, Georgia just to innocently browse and see what they had I found the booth was well stocked as you can see. Everything you see below was $5.00 each except for the ''super powered'' undecorated F7A.

A Cotton Belt 50' boxcar with Kadee couplers and metal wheels and a DODX HD flatcar kit. The DODX flat was a bust as it came with two parts bags containing the same parts and all sales are final. The car will need four trucks, eight wheels and couplers for completion.

A Walthers Penn Central steel coil coach kit was a really nice find.

The PC H54B covered hopper was the first thing I saw as I approached the booth. Right away I knew I'm going to need a bigger basket!!!

TOFC trailers and tractor trailer kits were also nice finds as was the bulkhead flatcar.

More TOFC and tractor trailer kits along with an Atlas covered MEC covered hopper that came with metal wheels and knuckle couplers.

A gold flywheel powered S12 complete with railings and parts bag.

The undecorated ''super powered' F7A.

The new rolling stock is readied for service

All the new rolling stock received a shot of Testor's Dullcote, had the appropriate parts like exposed weights, frames and wheel faces painted flat black. Metal wheels, Kadee couplers and additional weight was added as needed.

First out of the shop was the MEC 2483 as this was the easiest car to  work on since it was basically already a set up. 

Here is a photo of similar MEC covered hopper #2499 

The finished cars have been gathered on the Bedford Secondary track for their roster shots.

Prototype Photos. PC H54B #890418. SSW #67305. 

I really liked the Accurail CV boxcar that I plan to use in paper service with other CV and CN cars of this type.. 

CV #600178. BNSF Bulkhead Flatcar

The PC 762600 has been built and is now ready for service after adding additional weight, 36" metal wheels and Kadee #5 couplers.

PC #752356.

The Job Is Not Done Until The Paperwork Is Completed!

Since getting into model railroad operation freight cars on the layout get their own car card and waybill when ready for revenue service.

I used the Opsig Industry Database to assist in this endeavor.

More TOFC Traffic Please!!

The two 45' Triple Crown trailers were easy builds and each has an additional half ounce of weight added. Triple Crown trailers started running on flatcars in August 2024 when the road-railer service was terminated.

A pair of CSX 45' trailers were built like the above NS trailers and represent more recent TOFC traffic on the layout.

40' Pacific Intermountain Express and Sea-Land trailers enter service with additional weights.

New York & Atlantic and Conrail motive power handle the test train for the new freight cars. I'm really enjoying the running of this locomotive consist!

The test train makes its way around the layout.

The completed tractor trailer kits get placed around the layout after arriving at the Terminal Yard Ramp. The P.I.E. set is getting unloaded at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

The Sea-Land tractor and trailer are backed up to the Quaker Plant loading dock. 

When is a Baldwin S12 not an S12 But is an S12?

Here is the power chassis from the Blue Box S12. I've soldered the connections, painted the wheel faces, painted the coupler pockets and added Kadee #5 couplers. Beware the unpainted frame and metal couplers will conduct power to another unit that can cause a short circuit if the engines are not facing the same direction. 

The B&O 9278 shell is ready for primetime with new railings installed. When looking up the 9278 on the B&O roster I thought it was not an S12 but a Baldwin DS-4-4-1000 and relabeled the box. The B&O purchased forty nine of the turbocharged units that were renumbered 9225-9273. 

In another search I found the 9278 was actually one of five S12s purchased by the B&O numbered 9275-9278 and recorrected the label.

The BINO Baldwin is looking good and running well. Note the painted wheel faces.

The 9278 gets tested with a short REA transfer train that included a track cleaning boxcar.

A quick video of the BINO DS4-04-10 getting tested.

B&O DS4-4-1000 #9256. 

Additional Photos

Baldwin S12 1200

"Baldwin Locomotive Works # 1200 diesel locomotive (S-12) 2" by James St. John is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Triple Crown Road-Railer

"WALLIS_UP_71stStXing_2015_03_19_TripleCrownTrain_vidcapture_06_LookW_NoteConrailLogo" by MKE_railscenes is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Additional Reading and Links

Last Day of Triple Crown Roadrailer Service.

CSX Modern Intermodal Service.

Final Thoughts and Comments

The newly added rolling stock wasn't a big hit on my budget and provided more than a week of hobby time with the building of the kits and getting them ready for layout revenue service. This included completion of the car cards and waybills which is kind of a hobby within the hobby for me.

The gold flywheel undecorated S12 complete with railings was a welcome discovery as it "completed" the B&O 9278 with a better power chassis and the necessary railings.

The undecorated ''super power'' F7A remains just that for now. 

Thanks for reading & watching!!!

See you Soon!!

Penn Central Car Movements #114 / Operation Blue Comet Part 2 / Conclusion of Virtual Op

  Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #114

Operation Blue Comet

PCCM 114, a three layout special operation focusing on Blue Comet Presentations, a custom model railroad building company founded by 1:1 scale Steve Neubaum continues today with PCCM traffic from Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad, Ralph's Kings Port Division and other locations throughout the USA being delivered to Blue Comet Presentations two manufacturing locations and Blue Comet display layouts being shipped around the nation.

The action starts with a string of PCCM TOFC traffic heading to Blue Comet Presentations at All-City Storage in Bedford Park.

Robert R departs Bedford Park Yard with Train BP-12.

Train BP-12 heads to Terminal Yard.

After cutting off from the BP-12 freight cars Robert R couples onto the freight cars going back to Bedford Park Yard.

Train BP-41 departs Terminal Yard.

Robert R is back in Bedford Park and begins to deliver the PCCM freight traffic to Blue Comet Presentations inside All-City Storage. 

The other PCCM freight cars are placed in the yard and will be cycled to Blue Comet for unloading and reloading.

Hey!! What happened to Alco Joe!!! The PCCM freight cars have been loaded with Blue Comet Presentations Display Layouts and he is finally ready to depart Bedford Station.

Alco Joe brings the BT-27 into the Empire City Team Track.

Alco Joe checks in with Sir Neal, PC Ralph and conductor John. The guys try to remember when the last time a local peddler freight ran and used the Empire City team track.

The Bedford Turn is now back in Bedford as Train BT-28.

Alco Joe gets right to work pulling the PC and HRC boxcars loaded with display layouts from Blue Comet Presentations.

The BT-28 makes its moves towards Terminal Yard.

Alco Joe drops his Alco S4 in the engine terminal and shoots the breeze with engine hostler Wet Willie.

Kar Knocker and Big Mike get ready to work the BT-28 consist. There is still a lot to do.

Things are heating up at Empire City Station as the station switcher shoves empty TOFC cars towards the Rail Express Agency Ramp.

PCCM Trailers loaded with Blue Comet Presentations express shipments are arriving at the REA Ramp for inclusion of the next M&E Train arriving at Empire City Station.

Penn Central Mail & Express Train #9 is ready to depart East Bedford Station.

Mail & Express Train #9 departs East Bedford Station for Albany Station with a stop at Empire City Station.

Time to check in with engineer Robert R working the Blue Comet Presentations manufacturing location inside of All-City Storage.

Robert R pulls nine PCCM freight cars from Bedford Park Yard loaded with Blue Comet Presentations display layouts and other model RR items.

Train BP-12 heads to Terminal Yard.

After cutting off from the BP-12 Robert R delivers the 7608 to the engine terminal where Wet Willie will put it in the next train to Selkirk for its 30 day inspection.

Big Mike and Kar Knocker do their thing one more time.

Alco C425s 2434, 2417 and RS11 7608 get the honors to power the all PCCM freight traffic extra with loaded boxcars for Blue Comet and a pair of empty bulkhead flatcars for the MEC.

Extra 2434 departs Terminal Yard for Selkirk.

Next Stop Selkirk!!! Put it in the books!!!

This closes out Part 1 on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch all the PCCM action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad.

Special Thank You

A special thank you to Steve Neubaum for the idea behind this special PCCM op. Steve is truly a model railroading ambassador and his Blue Comet Presentations Display Layouts bring smiles to people of all ages who see them in action. Doing this on a grand scale as a one man operation is a labor of love that is evident in his finished products. Well done Steve!!!

A special thank you also goes out to Sir Neal and PC Ralph for their enthusiastic response and support for Operation Blue Comet. 

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!