Rapido Announces the GARX 37' Meat Reefer in N scale

[Puddington]

For me, the real question is, will they make enough red Swift reefers for me to get a couple?  Just from reading through the 2 recent threads, it looks like that is going to be popular. Other mid-50s schemes appropriate for Chicago also appreciated.

Have a look at our website - we list the dates of build and for the specific paint schemes for these cars. We will make as many as distributors, stores and modellers pre order..... we don"t make inventory. I hope they are popular....

[chicken45]

It's been 5 pages so...

[Dave V]

Question, probably for @bbussey...  I actually have no idea which of these belong in trains on the PRR Middle Division in 1956.  PRR was part of FGE, but in terms of meat reefers, I dunno.  I would imagine the red Swift, but would like confirmation.  thanks!

[bbussey]

New Haven also was part of FGE.  But as you stated, the meat reefers are a different car class altogether.

Red Swifties definitely – though not in as high a concentration as in my region, as there were major Swift facilities directly serviced by the New Haven which made the cars very prominent in New England.  But Swift had numerous facilities in the midwest, and I'm guessing equipment traveled on Pennsy rails.  Red cars were the norm in 1956.  There may have been a stray yellow with the red and white logo still around here and there, but I've never seen a late 1950s picture of one.

Of the other 1950s schemes depicted, I'm not as familiar with their travel routes.  Wilson was a heavy presence on NH, so it stands to reason that it traveled on PRR also.  Dubuque turned up on New England rails occasionally, but I would think it had a greater presence on PRR given where it was based.

Not sure about Hygrades or Kingan, or any of the schemes in the 1950s/1960s four-pack.  I have not seen pics of the protoypes in 1950s New England, but that doesn't mean they didn't travel on PRR rails. 

[Puddington]

I will ask Bill the reefer guru for specifics and report back.

[John]

I meant "you" in a general sense, not you personally.  He did leave for a time as I have the PM's to prove it.

Lots of people leave .. they also sometimes come back, and we get trashed on Trainboard as well .. such is life ..

[sirenwerks]

So... Um... It looks like I missed a bruhaha... I suppose it's too early to ask when the steel meat reefers will be arriving?   

[VonRyan]

Everyone is missing the important question...

Do the ice-hatches work?

That fact will effect how many I inevitably purchase.

[peteski]

Everyone is missing the important question...

Do the ice-hatches work?

That fact will effect how many I inevitably purchase.

You would like working hatches? Even if that made them grossly out of scale?! 

[bbussey]

They are separate parts and appear to be hinged to operate, based on the pilot model photos on the Rapido website.  But these aren't fruit reefers.  Pretty sure they didn't run in a ventilator configuration.

[Puddington]

The hatches are glued in place - they'd be too large if we made them opening and as previously stated meat reefers didn't run with open hatches like a fruit reefer. I am curious Von, why is an open hatch important to you; are we missing something obvious?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's been 5 pages so...

I love this photo, not only because it's funny, but also because it's a K4 running on the street trackage in York PA.

[wazzou]

Everyone is missing the important question...

Do the ice-hatches work?

That fact will effect how many I inevitably purchase.

Seriously?

[jpwisc]

Everyone is missing the important question...

Do the ice-hatches work?

That fact will effect how many I inevitably purchase.

Will you be running them with the hatches open, or are you looking at staging them at the ice platforms? I've never walked away from a covered hopper (my bread and butter) because the hatches didn't open. They are closed more than they are open.

[wcfn100]

meat reefers didn't run with open hatches like a fruit reefer.

Sure they did.   There are plenty of pictures showing meat reefers with one or two hatches open.  I think you guys are too hung up on how these cars operated iced and loaded.  There are other parts to a reefer's life cycle.

With that said, it doesn't bother me as long as there are kits available.

Jason