Fruit Growers Express was a railroad refrigerator car leasing company that began life as a produce-hauling subsidiary of Armour and Company's private refrigerator car line. In 1919 the Federal Trade Commission ordered the company's sale for anti-trust reasons.
Incorporated on March 18, 1920, the firm took possession of 4,280 pieces of rolling stock, repair shops at Alexandria, VA and Jacksonville, FL, and numerous ice plants and other facilities scattered throughout the East Coast. By year's end, the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, New Haven, and Norfolk and Western railroads became major stockholders.
Car #57708 built in 1924 was one of several thousand refers owned by FGE. It is now preserved at the Railroad Museum of PA (http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/).
About this creation
Fruit Growers Express #57708 has been restored and is now on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
Fruit Growers Express cars hauled mainly produce but refers similar to this one hauled any perishable goods that needed to be kept cool.
The RR crews loaded ice into reefers through roof hatches. As the Ice melted it cooled the interior of the car.
This MOC features opening doors and detailed interior.
The ice bins with vents at the top.
Ice hatches on the roof open
For more photos visit my Brickshelf Folder.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=362463
That is amazing work as always! I love the dark red, very good choice over plain red. The clear 1x1 plates / tiles almost look like real ice! Great work!