Reefer prototype?

[RRPETE]

Can anyone identify a prototype for the Bachmann Billboard Reefers?

[mabloodhound]

You will be hard pressed to find a prototype narrow gauge billboard reefer.   Actually, you may not find ANY reefers in narrow gauge.   Most lines weren't long enough to require a reefer.   This is a case where modeling liberties were taken in On30 to make it seem more like a standard gauge line.   And my guess is the same was done with the BB reefers.

[Skarloey Railway]

preserved/restored 2' gauge reefer

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?locomotive=Narrow%20Gauge%20Reefer%20Car
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=400477&nseq=6
http://www.wwfry.org/aboutus/museum.html

and 3' gauge d&rgw http://drgw.free.fr/DRGW/Freight/Reefer/Refrigerant_en.htm

[Royce Wilson]

Most of the Colorado roads had refers as they served dual purpose.cold in summer and protected items from freezing in winter,The tiffany;s slogan was "Summer & Winter". The westside lumber company had a special homade reefer to haul perishiables to camps.

There is a famous photo were the South Park used a refer to haul workers behind the enging that was bucking snow.

Royce

[railtwister]

preserved/restored 2' gauge reefer

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?locomotive=Narrow%20Gauge%20Reefer%20Car
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=400477&nseq=6
http://www.wwfry.org/aboutus/museum.html

and 3' gauge d&rgw http://drgw.free.fr/DRGW/Freight/Reefer/Refrigerant_en.htm

Generally, mabloodhound is right when he says narrow gauge reefers were not common, although as in any general statement, there are always exceptions. The D&RGW had both long and short reefers, and the Bachmann On30 model looks similar to (though not exactly like) the short one.

As for the posted pictures of the 2' gauge Turner Center car, it is not a reefer, it is a milk carrying box car. If you look at the picture of the man loading milk cans into the car, you can see that it is not even insulated (look at the inside of the roof), has a window in the side, and has no ice hatches or bunkers. Although it does have hinged doors, they are larger than those found on a true reefer, which were generally small, to keep from losing the "cold" when the doors were opened.

Bill in FtL

[mabloodhound]

Yup, that's what happens when I generalize something.   Good photos and info.   Never say never.
But, never the less, I do like the looks of a reefer on my RR.   So I'm not prototypical, it's my RR, etc.

[the Bach-man]

Hi, Pete!
Do you mean the car, or the roadnames?
I built the prototype car using our boxcar, removing the end doors and adding reefer doors and ice hatches.
Prototype railroad names (D&RGW, C&S, etc.) are based on real cars, but the beer reefers I basically made up, although they're all legit micro-brews.
Have fun!
the Bach-man

[terry2foot]

preserved/restored 2' gauge reefer

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?locomotive=Narrow%20Gauge%20Reefer%20Car
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=400477&nseq=6
http://www.wwfry.org/aboutus/museum.html

and 3' gauge d&rgw http://drgw.free.fr/DRGW/Freight/Reefer/Refrigerant_en.htm

The Wiscasset Museum car shown in the picture is a reproduction of the original style of cars used in cream and dairy service. The original cars were insulated, but fitted with stoves to keep the milk, cream and operator from freezing in the Maine winters. There were also a batch of boxcars fitted with stoves for potato service for similar reasons.

The reproduction car has been built for display purposes and therefore is fitted out differently to suit this purpose.


Terry2foot 

[jim margerum]

Hey Mr. Bach-man; While we're on the subject of reefers, any word on the C&S reefer, as a single issued item? Most C&S fans have the other items in this set already and won't purchase the set just to get the new car. I sat on my thumbs then someone broke-up three (3) sets, just to sell the C&S reefer for big money on eBay. I had hoped that others would join-in to move their sets by breaking them up, too. Nobody has followed to date. Thanks in advance, Jim

[the Bach-man]

Dear Jim,
I'll pass along that request.
Thanks!
the Bach-man