Let's be clear here.
The operating reefers (30-78040) that are included with the 30-1433-1 Silver Bullet set do not have shoes that allow them to operate independently on activation tracks. You must have the Silver Bullet engine to operate these reefer cars. They can be operated (with the Silver Bullet engine on the same track) in conventional mode using the bell / whistle button sequence to activate the PFA. The Silver Bullet engine is required to trigger the operation of these reefers in conventional or DCS mode. No activation track is needed nor can be used to operate the 30-78040 Silver Bullet Train reefers in any capacity.
Screen shot from the 30-1433-1 manual on how to operate the Coors Set reefers in conventional mode without DCS:
This text is directly from the manual of the 30-78040 reefer car manual:
RailKing Coors Light The Silver Bullet® Steam Locomotive Set2The Coors Light Silver Bullet Operating Reefer car was designed to complement the complete Coors Light Silver Bullet Train Set (M.T.H. Item number 30-1433-1). The operating reefer car features (opening door, flashing interior LEDs and blowing smoke (frost) cannot be activated unless the Silver Bullet locomotive is on the same track. The locomotive does not need to be connected to the reefer car but does need to be within six feet in order for the digital signal transmitted from the locomotive to be received by the operating reefer car.
MTH also made another Premier line reefer (20-94124) in 2007. This reefer has the power pickup shoes and will only operate when on an activation track. The Silver Bullet engine can not activate the operating mode of this reefer car.
References - MTH Manuals:
Silver Bullet Set 30-1443-1(LINK)
Silver Bullet Add-on reefer 30-78040 (LINK)
Premier Coors Reefer 20-94124 (LINK)
