开云体育

PFE/WP Reefer 50187

A photo post from the Digital Public Library of America.

Description:

Side view of a Western Pacific refrigerator car 50187, most likely photographed upon completion of the American Car & Foundry-built car in April 1923, by Kaufmann and Farry Company, commercial photographers. The car although owned by the WP, was operated as part of the PFE fleet.

My Notes:

California State Railroad Museum collection.

As seen here, most of you know that there were PFE refrigerator cars with Western Pacific heralds.

The story behind these WP reefers appeared on a Tony Thompson's blog post on June 25, 2013. Here is a link to the post:

Some brief points from the post:

• These cars were built to PFE blueprints and were operated and maintained by PFE.
• PFE paid a fixed monthly charge to WP, and in turn collected all mileage payments resulting from operation of the cars.
• There were WP 2,775 cars, numbered PFE 50001 to 52775. These had wood-framed superstructures and exteriors.
• WP cars were never different in color from the rest of the PFE fleet. They were a color close to Armour Yellow when new and in 1929 were repainted light orange.
• By 1950, less than 1,000 of the WP cars remained in revenue service
• During 1952–1953 the remaining cars were rebuilt with steel-framed superstructures and air circulation fans. The sides remained wood. They were renumbered as 55001 - 55899.
• There were still 31 of the WP cars in the July 1963 ORER. But the series was gone by 1965.

Bob Chaparro

Moderator