New Scale Trains / Fox Valley 40' RTR wood reefers
May 7, 2024 4:19:52 GMT -8
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Post by wagnersteve on May 7, 2024 4:19:52 GMT -8
The firm announced these new assembled models in its Fox Valley Models line May 5. Based on the PFE’s R-40-2 class built by Pacific Car & Foundry, they are also, I think, probably good stand-ins for other similar cars. These are very likely based on earlier MTH and Fox Valley tooling ST has acquired, with improvements and new paint schemes. I have not yet found photos of full-sized cars that match the photos and renderings of the models. All of these ice-cooled cars very likely carried produce long distances to the Northeastern U.S. before the development of mechanical refrigeration and the loss of much of traffic to long distance trucking.
All cars come with horizontal hand brake wheels atop vertical staffs – this is not shown in online photos of earlier MTH and Fox Valley cars – and with machined metal 33-in. wheels and plastic dummy knuckle couplers many modelers will want to replace. Their nominal list price is $39.99 per car, preorder price $31.99; preorder guarantee date 5/27/24, but based on past practice this is likely to be extended.
Paint schemes are as follows. In all cases the side lettering – except as noted –, side hinges, latch bar and grab irons as well underbodies and plain bearing truck sideframes are black; assume roofs and ends are boxcar red or brown unless noted.
*Burlington Refrigerator Express: yellow sides with black lettering, including line’s name, B.R.E.X., car numbers and Ventilator – Refrigerator in non-Roman caps with serifs, smaller lettering sans serif, plus red, black & white Burlington Route herald, built 1922-1923, “Era: Late 20s – 40s”. BREX numbers starting in750, ending in 023, 158, 314, 695, 876 and 937.
*Pacific Fruit Express / Southern Pacific and Union Pacific: yellow sides with boxcar red or brown stripes just below roof and door, with black lettering in Roman caps, black & white herald on one side right of the door, red, white & blue UP Overland herald on the other, class R-42, BLT and NEW 9-28. Roof is black but running boards and hatches are boxcar red or brown. “Era: Late 20s – Late 30s.” P.F.E. car numbers starting with 37 and ending in 564, 595, 698, 702 and 953, plus 38147.
*Santa Fe: orange sides with black & white circle/cross herald, class RR8, black roof apparent ly with hatches opening toward center of the car as on the others, not this road’s usual opposite direction, BLT and NEW4-29. “Era: Late 20s – 4. 0s.” S.F.R.D. numbers starting in 249, ending in 61, 68, 73, 77, 82 and 86.
*Merchants Despatch Refrigerator Line: BLT 1936: white sides with blue stripe at bottom, white one above it, bright red one above that, all side “hardware” and lettering black, nearly all in Roman caps including “ventilated” above “refrigerator” left of the door as seen head-on, company name right of it and NEW 10-36, in tiny sans serif caps “built by M.D.T. Co. East Roch. N.Y.”, in slightly larger ones “equipped for stage icing”, no herald. “Era: Mid 30s – 40s.” M.D.T. numbers starting with 63 and ending in 41, 47, 52, 55, 60 and 68.
*Pacific Fruit Express / Western Pacific: orange sides with black lettering in Roman caps including company name, with rectangular black & white WP herald with feather through ring inscribed “Feather River route” on both sides, BLT 5-24, “body rebuilt 2-41”. “Era: Late 302 --- Late 40s.” P.F.E. 50263, 504262, 52273, 53228, 52561 and 52626.
*Northern Pacific: yellow sides with boxcar red stripe just below roof and black ones below door and at bottom of sides, arched road name left of the door, small circular red, white & black monad or Yin/Yang herald right of it. BLT 9-31, shopped 9-41. “Era: Early 30s – 40s.” N.P. numbers beginning with 90 and ending in 237, 386, 418 and 577.
All cars come with horizontal hand brake wheels atop vertical staffs – this is not shown in online photos of earlier MTH and Fox Valley cars – and with machined metal 33-in. wheels and plastic dummy knuckle couplers many modelers will want to replace. Their nominal list price is $39.99 per car, preorder price $31.99; preorder guarantee date 5/27/24, but based on past practice this is likely to be extended.
Paint schemes are as follows. In all cases the side lettering – except as noted –, side hinges, latch bar and grab irons as well underbodies and plain bearing truck sideframes are black; assume roofs and ends are boxcar red or brown unless noted.
*Burlington Refrigerator Express: yellow sides with black lettering, including line’s name, B.R.E.X., car numbers and Ventilator – Refrigerator in non-Roman caps with serifs, smaller lettering sans serif, plus red, black & white Burlington Route herald, built 1922-1923, “Era: Late 20s – 40s”. BREX numbers starting in750, ending in 023, 158, 314, 695, 876 and 937.
*Pacific Fruit Express / Southern Pacific and Union Pacific: yellow sides with boxcar red or brown stripes just below roof and door, with black lettering in Roman caps, black & white herald on one side right of the door, red, white & blue UP Overland herald on the other, class R-42, BLT and NEW 9-28. Roof is black but running boards and hatches are boxcar red or brown. “Era: Late 20s – Late 30s.” P.F.E. car numbers starting with 37 and ending in 564, 595, 698, 702 and 953, plus 38147.
*Santa Fe: orange sides with black & white circle/cross herald, class RR8, black roof apparent ly with hatches opening toward center of the car as on the others, not this road’s usual opposite direction, BLT and NEW4-29. “Era: Late 20s – 4. 0s.” S.F.R.D. numbers starting in 249, ending in 61, 68, 73, 77, 82 and 86.
*Merchants Despatch Refrigerator Line: BLT 1936: white sides with blue stripe at bottom, white one above it, bright red one above that, all side “hardware” and lettering black, nearly all in Roman caps including “ventilated” above “refrigerator” left of the door as seen head-on, company name right of it and NEW 10-36, in tiny sans serif caps “built by M.D.T. Co. East Roch. N.Y.”, in slightly larger ones “equipped for stage icing”, no herald. “Era: Mid 30s – 40s.” M.D.T. numbers starting with 63 and ending in 41, 47, 52, 55, 60 and 68.
*Pacific Fruit Express / Western Pacific: orange sides with black lettering in Roman caps including company name, with rectangular black & white WP herald with feather through ring inscribed “Feather River route” on both sides, BLT 5-24, “body rebuilt 2-41”. “Era: Late 302 --- Late 40s.” P.F.E. 50263, 504262, 52273, 53228, 52561 and 52626.
*Northern Pacific: yellow sides with boxcar red stripe just below roof and black ones below door and at bottom of sides, arched road name left of the door, small circular red, white & black monad or Yin/Yang herald right of it. BLT 9-31, shopped 9-41. “Era: Early 30s – 40s.” N.P. numbers beginning with 90 and ending in 237, 386, 418 and 577.
