Return of the Walthers Cryogenic Reefers

[drolsen]

Just saw an announcement that Walthers is bringing back their Cryogenic reefer model in RTR form. It must be about 15 years since the kits were last produced. I was hoping that they would upgrade the model with separate ladders and door locking bars. It's a good representation of the prototype, but the molded details are pretty crude by today's standards.

What's kind of strange (in my opinion) is that they announced these models in both their Mainline series (910 prefix) and regular line (932 prefix) - four cars in each. The price is the same for both ($24.98) and the features appear to be the same too. the only difference is that the Mainline cars are described as 76' reefers (which I think is a larger prototype than the model), so those would be stand-ins, while the regular line is described as a 70' car (which I believe is the correct for the model):

Mainline series:
www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/910-3701

Standard series:
www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-60901

It's interesting to note that there are no Cryo-Trans (CRYX) models in this release. My understanding is that the company is highly protective of their logo and has blocked any further production of their scheme on models or decals. That's a bummer, as I'd really like to model a couple of these McCain cars:

CRYX 2028 (fuzzy photo from Fallen Flags):
www.rr-fallenflags.org/cryx/cryx2028dca.jpg

These cars delivered frozen french fries to a cold storage facility on the CSX Old Main Line in the time period I'm modeling.

Unfortunately for me, I think interest in a better quality model would be pretty limited since these cars lasted for less than a decade in true cryogenic service before they were converted to regular reefers. Photos of them in the '90s are pretty hard to come by.

Dave

[riogrande]

It looks like the Std series may be dolled up a bit vs the Mainline from the photos?

I think they are too late for me as an early to mid 1990's but nice to see models re-issued for those who would like to have them. I'd imagine if hunted in big train shows you'd come across the odd Walthers Cyrogenic Reefer.

[atsfan]

These older versions are still out there once in a while.
Heck, EVERYTHING is still out there if you look long and hard.

[buffalobill]

Dave: The old Cryo-Trans cars from the 1990's runs are still around at the shows. As you pointed out the detailing on these cars is very crude- even for Walthers standards in those days. The 76' is the overall length of the cars. One of the last shippers using these cars in CO2 service is JR Simplott out of Portage la Prairie, MB. Most of the modern CO2 cars have be converted to mechanical refrigeration. The old Plate C 60' cars have largely been scrapped.
Bill

[sd80macs]

Oct 20, 2012 0:11:30 GMT -8 drolsen said:

It's interesting to note that there are no Cryo-Trans (CRYX) models in this release. My understanding is that the company is highly protective of their logo and has blocked any further production of their scheme on models or decals. That's a bummer, as I'd really like to model a couple of these McCain cars:

CRYX 2028 (fuzzy photo from Fallen Flags):
www.rr-fallenflags.org/cryx/cryx2028dca.jpg

These cars delivered frozen french fries to a cold storage facility on the CSX Old Main Line in the time period I'm modeling.

Unfortunately for me, I think interest in a better quality model would be pretty limited since these cars lasted for less than a decade in true cryogenic service before they were converted to regular reefers. Photos of them in the '90s are pretty hard to come by.

Dave

Due to CryoTrans gaurding their logo and I am sure McCain is the same way I doubt you will see any of them from Walthers. I have found a guy that makes the CryoTrans decals and picked some up. I also had hime make some McCain decals for them too. I have to get a pic of the car decals but here is the McCain logo.

[drolsen]

Mark - Those look fantastic! I think I may know who you're referring to (Dan?). I had been in contact with him a while back but hadn't had a chance to follow up with him. I was trying to collect additional data about the small lettering, especially those little red labels that provide some kind of warning about the CO2 storage tanks. Were those included in his decals?

Thanks for sharing the photos!

I've definitely seen older kits at shows (I have a Carnation car and an undecorated at home), but the original paint jobs were pretty bad. They looked almost like some of the paint had worn off from rubbing against the packaging or something - they had sort of a faded look to them. If I can get decals, I'd be happy to make some detail upgrades and paint them myself.

Dave

[fr8kar]

What's the story with the names on the doors? I spotted one the other day marked "Bubba" which made me laugh out loud.

[sd80macs]

Oct 20, 2012 5:38:32 GMT -8 drolsen said:

Mark - Those look fantastic! I think I may know who you're referring to (Dan?). I had been in contact with him a while back but hadn't had a chance to follow up with him. I was trying to collect additional data about the small lettering, especially those little red labels that provide some kind of warning about the CO2 storage tanks. Were those included in his decals?

Thanks for sharing the photos!

I've definitely seen older kits at shows (I have a Carnation car and an undecorated at home), but the original paint jobs were pretty bad. They looked almost like some of the paint had worn off from rubbing against the packaging or something - they had sort of a faded look to them. If I can get decals, I'd be happy to make some detail upgrades and paint them myself.

Dave

Yes its Dan, I had him make me a dozen sets of decals for the CryoTrans cars as I am going to redo some of the Walthers kits, luckily the timeframe I model (1990-2001) makes these cars new and still in CO2 use. I remember seeing small cuts of these cars on the CR line I plan to model so they will fit right in. I dont plan to do much to them except add some Air Hoses, AEI Tags, Coupler Bars, and possibly some underframe details.

[nw611]

Dave, I think you already posted a picture of the real BNSF 79002 ex Nestlé car (maybe on the old Atlas Forum) and you also underlined that the real car was substantially different from the model offered by Walthers (a mechanical reefer unit was added at one end). Do I remember correctly? Ciao. Raffaele

[drolsen]

Mark - I probably only need 2 or 3 of the Cryo-Trans cars, so I'm going to try to redo the molded details (door bars and ladders) and add some underbody details. This old article from Model Railroading gives some tips on adding some generic brake details to give the look of the prototype underboady when viewed from trackside:

www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/251/18730/july-2001-page-36

Did the decals come with relatively accurate small data for these cars, and the small red square CO2 warning labels in particular? I got the impression he based his decals off the later cars with conventional reefer units, so I figured he might not have the original cryo version's data included. Did he included the roof reporting marks? I haven't been able to find prototype photos of those to confirm they were on these cars. The decals look excellent though. I'll probably pick out a half dozen names / road numbers and order two sets in case I make any mistakes with them. Thanks for the feedback!

Raffaele - I think you may be thinking of a previous discussion we had (either here or on the Atlas Forum) about the larger BNSF reefers that some people were hoping ExactRail could produce after their TrinCool ARMN reefer was released. A lot of people were asking for the white BNSF and Tropicana reefers, and I pointed out that they were both different in size from the ARMN reefers.

The BNSF / Nestlé car appears to be correct, and I think it was also one of a kind:

BNSF 790002:
www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=143268

It looks like the 4 rectangles on the side of the Walthers model next to the ladder are supposed to represent the vents for the reefer unit (the BNSF car had the end modified with a conventional reefer as you can see in the photos above):

www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-60901

Unfortunately there's a comment on the first photo saying the car was scrapped in 2010.

Dave

[sd80macs]

I did see some of these cars recently (6-10-2012) in Readville, MA and not sure if they had a reefer upgrade, used as reg boxcars, or still in CO2 service. They def didnt have the reefer and walkway added to the end.

[drolsen]

Mark - Looks like those might be ex-GATX "ARCTICAR" cryo reefers, based on the blue excess height bands on the ends and the large patch that is just barely visible behind the Cryo-Trans logo. They definitely look like they haven't been modified, but as you mentioned, they might be in service as just large RBLs, since they would still be well insulated. The original cars had the red CO2 warning labels on the car sides near the "A" end, and I don't see any visible on your photos of CRYX 3467. The CSX UMLER lists the car as AAR type R690, which is a cryogenic reefer, but that database has been wrong before... Here's a photo of the other side of the car, which hasn't been tagged as badly:

www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2948037

Thanks for pointing those out (on the MFCL too),

Dave