Lionel #6-17334 REA milk car

I believe you're confusing REA ice refrigerated 50' express reefers (as in the prototype photo - note the ice hatch walks at the ends) with 40' General American insulated (not refrigerated) milk tank cars.  The Lionel body is an excellent model of a GA milk tank car - but incorrectly painted for REA which didn't operate milk tank cars.  Lionel did offer the car painted for milk service.  You are correct in stating that express reefers and milk tank cars were outfitted with passenger service underbody equipment so they could run in passenger trains.  Check out the 3RS thread on wood reefers and milk tank cars for more photos and info.  For those interested in REA express reefers I recommend the AtlasO (wood prototype) and Golden Gate Depot (steel prototype) cars.  Both were offered in an interesting variety of correct REA lettering schemes.

For those that aren't concerned about the prototype - enjoy running the Lionel REA car - it's very nice looKing.  As an O scale 2 railer i follow Lionel's scale sized offerings  to see which I can can convert to round  out my roster.  Some times it's just trucks and couplers, other times it may take a repaint.  High on this year's watch list is the PRR Gla hopper. 

Ed Rappe

You are correct. The prototype photo is a refrigerated car but not a milk car.  It is the only photo I could find.

Both Lionel and MTH often issue models that have fictitious paint schemes. The paint schemes are often very nice but are not always authentic. 

I also have a NYC milk car issued by Lionel.   

I could not find prototype photos of milk cars of this type.  Anyone help?