my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Southern Pacific Fruit Express

57ft Mechanical Reefer

Nothing particularly fancy about the above Athearn model, although the Model Railroader article was used to upgrade this car.

SP system reefers were designated R-xx-x : the 'R' is for Refrigeration, the 'xx' denoted the axle load in tons (in this case 70), and the last 'x' was the class or type or design.

SPFE stands for Southern Pacific Fruit Express, as a follow on from the splitting up of the joint UP/SP owned PFE (Pacific Fruit Express).

• Athearn
  • Kit No.5460 - Undec.
  • Athearn has released a 12 pack painted in the 'white' scheme.

According to the articles, the Athearn HO Scale model corresponds roughly to an R-70-20 Mechanical Reefer, and is a stand in for classes R-70-20 to R-70-25 with suitable changes.

• Con-Cor (HO)
  • Kit No.9800 - Undec.
  • Kit No.9801 - PFE Orange/Black
  • Kit No.9802 - SPFE White/Black
  • Kit No.9803 - PFE 1969 - Orange/Black
  • Kit No.9804 - SPFE White/Orange/Black
  • Kit No.9805 - Golden West.

Con-Cor also make a 57ft Mechanical Reefer in HO and N Scale, and the RailModel Journal articles listed below cover that model.

The Con-Cor model is evidently a good match for classes R-70-14 through R-70-16, and with some work classes R-70-16 to R-70-19.

Decals:

• MS 87-17 - Southern Pacific Reefers 57' Mechanical - Black/White PFE - 1960-70 N
• MS 87-250 - Southern Pacific Reefers 57' Mechanical - White PFE - 1960-80 N
• MS 87-261 - Southern Pacific Reefers 57' Mechanical - 1 car only - 1970 N
• MS 87-407 - Southern Pacific Reefers 57' Mechanical - SPFE Orange repaints - 1980 N
• MS 87-408 - Southern Pacific Reefers 57' Mechanical - SPFE White repaints - 1980 N
• MS 87-409 - Southern Pacific Reefers 57' Mechanical - SPFE Orange repaints - 1980 N
• MS 87-529 - Southern Pacific Reefers 57' Mechanical - White w/- Color Heralds 1988 N
• MS 87-694 - Golden West Service Freight Cars #3.
• Champ HR-73 - White PFE for Orange reefer - 1975 (R-73 for O Scale)
• Herald King PR-157 - White PFE for Orange or White Reefer - 1970

References:

• Model Railroader Jul. 1989 - SP R-70-20/24 White 57ft Reefer - Athearn repaint.
• Railroad Model Craftsman Jul. 1982 - Protofile 21: SP R-70-x 57ft Reefers - modeling details.
• Railroad Model Craftsman Jan. 1988 - PFE's Mechanical Reefers - History/Rosters/Models
• Railroad Model Craftsman Jun. 1994 - SP R-70-20 57ft Reefer - Athearn kitbash.
• RailModel Journal Mar. 1993 - Car Spotters Guide #14 - SP R-70-13/14/16/19/ 57ft Reefers.
• RailModel Journal Apr. 1993 - Car Spotters Guide #15 - SP R-70-16 57ft Reefers.
• Model Railroading April 1996 - Modeling a Golden West 57ft Mechanical reefer.