Rapido News

[sirenwerks]

Digging deep into the vacuous caverns of my mind, I might have answered my own question about longevity. From '72-'74 a buddy and I railfanned in an area with a lot of citrus packing houses, all served by ATSF. The din of mech reefers was considerable. I don't recall seeing any with the classic slogan lettering and especially ladders and roofwalks, so if some of these were in fact older cars, they had been modernized and repainted.

Bottom line is the bottom line. I can save my shekels this round, I think, but if Rapido reissues these cars as they probably appeared ~1970, my wallet is toast. 

You mean something like this?





I can't find any photos online of the classes of cars Rapido is releasing in paint schemes other than  what it is offering.  So I am wondering what your memory remembers.

[GonzoCRFan]

What is Rapido's turn around time between pre-order close and delivery on a freight car, nowadays?  Which is to say, in what year is the bill likely to come due?

They said in the announcement video that pre-orders are due 12/6, so they made it seem like they're ready to start cranking 'em out once they know how many to make.

[mu26aeh]

Yeah, this one with quick turn around.  Pre prod cars already in house, meanwhile the HO chlorate car doesn't have a pre prod yet.

[packers#1]

Oooooo I’m gonna need a couple of those Procor hoppers; they’re not as wide spread as the centerflows from what I’ve seen, but they’re still out there, or at least were recently enough.

[pjm20]

Here is a handy collection of articles for those interested in ATSF reefer ops after I had to do some more research: https://www.jumpjet.info/Offbeat-Internet/More/3rail/Reefer_Operations.pdf

Anyone have a collective SFRD roster that would show how these would be in proportion to the rest of the fleet?

[Tom L]

What is Rapido's turn around time between pre-order close and delivery on a freight car, nowadays?  Which is to say, in what year is the bill likely to come due?

I believe Rapido has its own factory, which probably makes for a quicker production process.

Tom L
Wellington CO

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I believe Rapido has its own factory, which probably makes for a quicker production process.

Tom L
Wellington CO

Especially for stuff like this that isn't reliant on electronics from third parties.

[thomasjmdavis]

Here is a handy collection of articles for those interested in ATSF reefer ops after I had to do some more research: https://www.jumpjet.info/Offbeat-Internet/More/3rail/Reefer_Operations.pdf

Anyone have a collective SFRD roster that would show how these would be in proportion to the rest of the fleet?

Here is a roster of freight cars in use as of 1950, although the number of cars in each class appear to be the original number constructed, not necessarily "live" cars.  But I think it safe to think that most reefers RR-19 or newer were still in operation. A quick add of those cars totals 11700.  Probably a few less in 1955 when the first RR-56 made an appearance, but then, there would also have been a couple more rebuild classes by then.

https://old.atsfrr.org/resources/HollwedelGeorge/1950%20Freight%20Cars.pdf

By contrast, there were 200 RR-56, 25 RR-60, ?? RR-61

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/other_cars/atsf_cars/atsf_class/reefer/index.htm

[CBQ Fan]

I would love to see the CBQ/BN equipment in N scale, but I would be shocked if they ever did I it. I might buy the reefers if it is a slow month when they arrive.

[wcfn100]

I'll be in if they do the SFRP reporting marks.

Jason

[EspeeGoldenState]

Give me 90208 and 90221 in N scale. I'll also gladly take a Phase II painted F40PH #239 too.

Just bring the F40PHs and Cabbage to N scale!

[nkalanaga]

As Tom says, mechanical reefers, being much more expensive than the older iced ones, were primarily used for frozen foods in the early years.  Eventually they became common enough that icing was discontinued in the early 70s.

The BN used older reefers for potatoes for several years after that, as all they needed was insulation.  They also used the reefers for grain, due to a shortage of 40 ft boxcars and covered hoppers.  Remove the bunkers, and load the grain through the roof hatches.  They didn't need grain doors, as the reefer doors were already well sealed, making unloading easier than a standard boxcar, just open the door.

The disadvantage was that most were only 40-ton cars, so they gave the elevators a two-cars-for-the-price-of-one deal.  The elevators didn't like them, but when the alternative was no cars, they took them.

The BN also lined old stock cars with plywood and used them for grain, after a good cleaning.  They took standard grain doors.

[kiwi_al]

Well this is a first for me. I've been able to avoid every Rapido release so far but.........
ATSF Reefers oh dear, hide Mr Wallet hide!!!! 

[kscessandriver]

Too bad they aren't doing 210 in the F40PHM-2 release. Of course, if you know, you know, but if you don't, don't go look it up. Its disturbing the "relationship" a certain person has with that locomotive.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Too bad they aren't doing 210 in the F40PHM-2 release. Of course, if you know, you know, but if you don't, don't go look it up. Its disturbing the "relationship" a certain person has with that locomotive.

Hahahaha. I'm hoping it's a special run (like the Amtrak Day One unit).