Refrigerator Car, Express

Manufacturer:

Crown Model Products

Manufacturer ID:

SR-8002

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Prototype Year/Era:

1920s

Road Name:

General American Refrigerator Express (GARE)

Road Number:

822

Model Introduced:

1994

Product Type:

Plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Notes:

"Hood's Milk". Available with scale or hi-rail wheels and couplers, and with three different road numbers. Models sold at retail exclusively through Port Lines Hobby Supplies.

Manufacturer:

Crown Model Products

Manufacturer ID:

SR-8004

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Prototype Year/Era:

1920s

Road Name:

General American Refrigerator Express (GARE)

Road Number:

742

Model Introduced:

1994

Product Type:

Plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Notes:

"A&P". Available with scale or hi-rail wheels and couplers, and with three different road numbers. Models sold at retail exclusively through Port Lines Hobby Supplies.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The unpainted and undecorated version of this kit. Kinsman recommended the Enhorning decals at the time of the release of this kit. The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Borden's (BFIX)

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Prototype Year/Era:

1922

Road Name:

Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)

Road Number:

5650

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Central Vermont (CV)

Road Number:

556

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.
Dick Karnes' model was built by Virgil Crosby. Dick added Nimco suburban trucks and Kadee HO-scale couplers.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Great Northern (GN)

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Hood's Milk

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Illinois Central (IC)

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Milwaukee Road (MILW)

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s. Bill Lane installed the Kadee 802 couplers.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Northern Refrigerator Car Co. (NRCC)

Road Number:

725

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Pacific Fruit Express (PFE)

Road Number:

503

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Railway Express Agency (REA)

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.
Dick Karnes cut and spliced the trucks from S Scale Locomotive & Supply 6-wheel sprung Commonwealth wood-beam passenger trucks. He installed HO-scale Kadee couplers.

Manufacturer:

Kinsman Scale Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Renkins

Model Introduced:

1964

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Capacity:

35-ton

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

The kits did not include trucks nor couplers. Kinsman did have trucks available separately, but they eventually discontinued them. After that, John Bortz, under the name Delaware Valley Kits, manufactured and sold the trucks for this car. Scenery Unlimited eventually re-released some of these kits in the late-1970s.

Manufacturer:

Midgage Models

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Great Northern (GN)

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The kit comes with pre-printed and embossed cardstock sides, ends, and letterboards. It also includes soft-metal and stamped-brass details. The model in the photo was built by Dick Karnes. He used converted Kemtron On3 passenger trucks (not part of the kit), and HO-scale Kadee couplers to complete his model. Greg's model (Photo #2) uses Stewart truck sideframes.

Manufacturer:

MLW Services

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Prototype Year/Era:

1948

Road Name:

Canadian National Railway (CN)

Road Number:

10500

Model Introduced:

2014

Product Type:

Brass Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Model Online Article:

visit site

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

CNR Series 2E Steel 8-hatch express reefer, shown in the original colors. Andy mentioned that the decal sheen was something he still needed to work on. This is a pilot model. He made 15 of these cars.

Manufacturer:

MLW Services

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Canadian National Railway (CN)

Road Number:

10516

Model Introduced:

2014

Product Type:

Brass Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

CNR Series 2E Steel 8-hatch express reefer, built in 1948, shown in the 1954 colors. Andy mentioned that the decal sheen was something he still needed to work on. This is a pilot model.

Manufacturer:

Perma-Bilt Models

Manufacturer ID:

9247

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Bangor & Aroostook (BAR)

Model Introduced:

1952

Product Type:

Wood & Metal Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Dimensions:

40'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

"Maine Potatoes". These kits consisted of a wooden framework (for the floor, two roof strips, end blocks, and spacer blocks), over which the pre-painted/lettered stamped metal sides, ends, roof, and roof walk were to be applied. This kit has no rivets on the sides, to represent flush plywood sides.

Manufacturer:

Perma-Bilt Models

Manufacturer ID:

9250

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Canadian National Railway (CN)

Model Introduced:

1952

Product Type:

Wood & Metal Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Dimensions:

40'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

These kits consisted of a wooden framework (for the floor, two roof strips, end blocks, and spacer blocks), over which the pre-painted/lettered stamped metal sides, ends, roof, and roof walk were to be applied. This kit has no rivets on the sides, to represent flush plywood sides.

Manufacturer:

Perma-Bilt Models

Manufacturer ID:

9251

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Great Northern (GN)

Model Introduced:

1952

Product Type:

Wood & Metal Kit

Finish:

pre-printed

Prototype Dimensions:

40'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

These kits consisted of a wooden framework (for the floor, two roof strips, end blocks, and spacer blocks), over which the pre-painted/lettered stamped metal sides, ends, roof, and roof walk were to be applied. This kit has no rivets on the sides, to represent flush plywood sides.

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers.

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Central Vermont (CV)

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers. They are the old Kinsman kits (see Photo #2 for Dick Karnes' original Kinsman kit).

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

General American Refrigerator Express (GARE)

Road Number:

787

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

"Dairyman's League". The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers.

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Great Northern (GN)

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers. There were two road numbers available for this kit.

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Milwaukee Road (MILW)

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers.

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Northern Pacific (NP)

Road Number:

2501

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers.

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Railway Express Agency (REA)

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers. Sam Powell did a product review of this kit in the Railroad Master Craftsman April 1979 issue (pg. 103) where he stated that the instructions that accompany the kit are excellent with good-quality drawings. He gave it a very good review as the kit is easy to build, once the parts are correctly identified. The second photo show white-letter decals used.

Manufacturer:

Scenery Unlimited

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

The Borden Company (BWIX)

Road Number:

25

Model Introduced:

1979

Product Type:

Wood Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

"Pennsylvania". The kit consisted of Northeastern Scale Models basswood parts, Stewart soft-metal castings, Wisconsin Central Supply silk-screened sides, drawings, and instructions It did not include trucks nor couplers.

Manufacturer:

SouthWind Models

Manufacturer ID:

SWM-0033

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

New York Central (NYC)

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Brass

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Notes:

The model was made in Korea by Duck-Yoo Corp. It arrived unpainted. The main photo shows Dick's model which uses Des Plaines Hobbies decals and S-scale Kadee couplers. Photo #2 shows Tom's model from a different angle. Photo #3 shows Bill's model painted and decorated for his freelanced St. Louis Eastern & Pacific (SLE&P).

Manufacturer:

SouthWind Models

Manufacturer ID:

SWM-0001

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

Prototype Class:

R50b

Model Introduced:

1987

Product Type:

Brass

Finish:

painted & unpainted

Notes:

Made in Korea by Daiyang Models. It is a 13-ounce model. The second photo is of Ed Kirstatter's model. These have operating ice hatches and sprung trucks. The trucks, appropriate also for any PRR P70 coaches, were available separately. However, the wheels were originally gauged for the old NMRA standard, so they will need some adjustment to the current NMRA/NASG standard, if not yet so done. Dick Karnes reviewed this model in the Fall 1987 issue of the NASG's Dispatch.

Manufacturer:

Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff

Manufacturer ID:

601

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Craftsman Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

Brooks added a number of details to enhance the wooden model. Photo #2 shows the unpainted model, so that it is easier for you to see which parts he added. The metal ice hatches on the roof and the plastic door hinges came with the kit. The brake wheel, the ladders, and the stirrups are Pacific Rail Shop parts. Various other parts Brooks made from styrene. He also added nut-bolt-washers details, brass wire, as well as Archer rivet decals. The lettering and logo decals came from Des Plaines Hobbies. Kits do not include couplers nor trucks.

Manufacturer:

Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff

Manufacturer ID:

605

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

General American Refrigerator Express (GARE)

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Craftsman Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

"Hood's Milk". Pre-decorated. Kits do not include couplers nor trucks.

Manufacturer:

Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff

Manufacturer ID:

603

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Illinois Central (IC)

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Craftsman Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

Pre-decorated. Kits do not include couplers nor trucks.

Manufacturer:

Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff

Manufacturer ID:

602

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Missouri Pacific (MP)

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Craftsman Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

Pre-decorated. Kits do not include couplers nor trucks.

Manufacturer:

Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff

Manufacturer ID:

606

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Northern Pacific (NP)

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Craftsman Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

Pre-decorated. Kits do not include couplers nor trucks.

Manufacturer:

Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff

Manufacturer ID:

607

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Craftsman Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

Pre-decorated. Kits do not include couplers nor trucks.

Manufacturer:

Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff

Manufacturer ID:

604

Category:

Refrigerator Car, Express

Road Name:

Railway Express Agency (REA)

Model Introduced:

1990

Product Type:

Craftsman Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Prototype Dimensions:

50'

Supplemental:

view

Notes:

Pre-decorated. Kits do not include couplers nor trucks.