Need Your Help With a Reefer (Pics) (Big News 1/28)

I am even having trouble finding any good pictures of this car to try to have decals made.  These are the only two pictures I have so far.

This is an H.O. car that Walther's released a few years ago in the Gold Line.

And here is an old advertisement from Spencer Packing that ran in the local newspaper in the 1959 Clay County Fair edition.

Art

Most of you have heard me reminisce about this before, but when I was a boy I would watch the Milwaukee Road "meat train" when it arrived in Spencer at about 9:00 PM at night.  It was going from Sioux Falls, SD to Chicago and picked up loaded reefers and dropped off empties every day.  Spencer Packing would switch the day's production onto a long siding on the west side of town for this train to pickup.  I would love to watch it switch cars and talk to the engineer and conductor.  They were very friendly to me and really increased my love of trains.

Art

I'm curious if forum sponsor Custom O Decals could make decals with only these two pictures as a guide?  I am still looking for better pictures but haven't found any yet.

Art

i would try contacting the Spencer, Iowa Chamber of Commerce or Public Library where information about the company might include letterheads or brochures with copies of the artwork/ logo on that reefer.

good luck...gary

That's a good idea Gary, thanks.

Art

It seems to me that once you get some artwork you could make your own reefer. I have even printed logos on paper and glued them on freight cars with pretty good results.

I am a little confused as to why the major manufactures have never shown much interest in making this?  It seems like there is no end to the private owner reefers that they have made and they also seem to sell well.  All it requires is a new paint job and art work, not any new molds.  IT was just a standard 40 foot steel reefer. 

I like it not only because of seeing it as a boy, but because it has the state of Iowa logo with a star highlighting Spencer, Iowa on it.  I also love the Dubuque Packing Co. reefers that Atlas makes because of the state of Iowa logo on them.

Art

Art,

  I agree with you, Atlas or MTH should make that one!  Atlas made two of them with steel reefer cars:

The manufacturers do read the Forum posts, so let's hope one of them is listening to you, Art. Reefers sell well, so someone should have an interest in making these.

Art,

Have you tried:

http://www.trainresource.com/Home.html

Tom

I would try Weaver; in fact, I would have tried them first.

And try Lionel (they irritate me by a poor offering of my region's RS road names - the SE - but that's not your problem); all these guys make nice cars - some in the same factories.

Tom - I have not heard of them before.  Have you seen any of their cars?  I see they have two very interesting cars on their web site right now, a Rath reefer and a Morrell reefer.  Both of these were seen on the meat train that I am modeling, especially the Morrell.  There were several Morrell packing plants located on or near the Milwaukee Road line that this train ran on.

Art

D500 - That's a good suggestion.  If any of these manufacturers monitor the forum it would really be great if they would contact me, either online or in a private email if they prefer.

Art

If the Spencer area or county has a historical society, or there is one in a city nearby,

I'd check that out.  I was surprised that 1959? ad has only a four digit phone number in it, and that the company had started that late (1952?) and grown so quickly.

Buffalo Graphics I am familiar with...had not heard of "TrainResource", either.

Art - If you get tables at Chicago train meets, you ought to make a sign and see if you could generate engough interest.  Then, there are a number of ways to make it happen.  

If you belong to any train organization that offers cars, perhaps the Midwest Division of the TCA,  you might be able to generate enough interest.

Good luck.

Art,

I have not purchased from Train Resources yet,

but planning to this summer. I have seen their cars

and they look really good.

Tom

Art,

I suggest you stay with Weaver. See what size run you would have to purchase. Also, ask them if they would do half the run in one color and the other half a different color. You may have to purchase a larger amount but now your customers have two different cars to buy. You will find that most of your customers will buy both. Weaver, would probably do each car in three different numbers for you. There will be people that will buy all six cars. 

"I suggest you stay with Weaver."

I agree with Jim.

Thanks for all the latest advice.  I like the idea of buying made in America products.

Art

frankly i would stick to standard Reefer Yellow...

Polly-S

Floquil

well...one of the standards. 

i would think multiple car numbers would be a better way to attract multi-car purchases.  reefers make great unit trains.

cheers...gary

Art, please keep us posted as to your decision.

Jim - Thanks for your interest and advice.  I'm really glad to see you actively involved in the forum.  We miss you as a retailer.

So far it looks these are my best choices:

• Have decals made, buy the right type of 40 foot steel reefers, and repaint and decal them.
• Contact Weaver to see the minimum order and pricing.
• Contact Buffalo Grove Graphics for the same info.
• Contact Atlas and MTH to see if there is any interest there.
• Contact a Iowa retailer like Merlyn at Caboose Stop about sponsoring a special run with someone like Atlas.

Art

Tom - I am in the process of contacting them.  Thank you for the tip.  They have two great looking custom runs on their web site a Rath and a Morrell reefer.  Here are pictures of them.

Both of these cars were also common on these meat trains.

Art

Gary - I followed your excellent suggestion and received a photo today from the Spencer Library.  It's not of the reefer that I am looking for, but a great picture of the packing plant in the right time frame.  Thanks.

Art

This would make a nice new structure on your layout, Art.

Brian - I was thinking the same thing.  It's a low, flat structure with a single rail siding that would be perfect on the siding in front of my town of Spencer.

Art

Art,

What did you find out when you spoke with Weaver?

Jim - I got a one sentence response. 

"We are currently out of Steel Side bodies."

I did get a great response from Buffalo Creek Graphics and they use Weaver cars, but they also obviously do not have 40 foot steel reefers.  If I am willing to use wood bodied cars, I can pursue it with either.  I very much like the looks of the wood bodied cars, but haven't decided how important it is to be 100% accurate.

Art

Can anyone identify the Milwaukee Road switcher in this photo?  It was taken in the late '50's to early '60's.  And I'm pretty sure that they didn't send the newest equipment to Spencer either.

I see that the second car and the fourth and fifth cars are the Spencer Packing Reefers that I am looking for.  The third car is a tank car and was used for tallow I think.

Art

Chugman,

    Art that sure looks like an old Atlas O Steam Era Box Car to me, remember Atlas has made many special low volume runs, it very well might be one of the old Atlas Box Car.  If you show a picture of the underside of the Box Car the detailing should tell you whether it is Atlas O or Weaver.

PCRR/Dave

looks like it might be a Baldwin S12...

Art,

I would at least get a price on the wood sided reefers. Art, doesn't Weaver paint cars for Buffalo Creek Graphics or does Buffalo Creek Graphics paint their own cars. 

Jim - I'm not certain who does the painting, but I thought Buffalo Creek Graphics did it on Weaver's cars.  I thought that I would wait until I hear from everyone and then ask for more information from the ones that look the best.  I haven't discounted Weaver, but I was a little surprised at how short their reply was.  I did state that I was looking for 40 foot steel cars and they don't have any right now so I guess they figured why say any more?  BCG stated they would love to work with me with wood sided cars and gave me all the information.  One just seemed much more eager to work with me I guess.

Art 

Thanks.  I see on their roster that they had 21 of these which was their most used Baldwin switcher.  Do you know if anyone has made these for Milwaukee Road in O scale?

Art

I may be able to help with the art if you still need that. I too like Reefers!!

My build, paint and decals.

That's a beautiful job, Dave.  I will keep that in mind as I travel down this path.  I would like to get it done the easiest, least expensively, but with a finished product that I can be happy with. 

Art

Art,

  Should u plan to have several cars, I would like buy one or two cars from you and for my Central Division Layout (Minnesota and Iowa).