Translation required

[Vagabond]

Newt, Phone, forward please

As you may know, steam locomotive and railroad history is one of my interests when not fishing. I have a large collection of American books on the subject.

 

So what is a "reefer" ? As in a photo caption "CN 6002 heads west with a string of empty reefers"

 

From the picture these appear to be some sort of boxcars, each with a vent on the roof suggesting they are refrigerated units designed for transporting perishables such as fruit - or is it more specific than that?

[Sportsman]

Newt, Phone, forward please

As you may know, steam locomotive and railroad history is one of my interests when not fishing. I have a large collection of American books on the subject.

 

So what is a "reefer" ? As in a photo caption "CN 6002 heads west with a string of empty reefers"

 

From the picture these appear to be some sort of boxcars, each with a vent on the roof suggesting they are refrigerated units designed for transporting perishables such as fruit - or is it more specific than that?

 

When I worked for an American drilling company in the desert our food supplies were delivered in "reefer" trucks, or refrigerated lorries.

I would assume this means the same.

[Phone]

Vagabond,

 

If one end or the other has a radiator its probably a "reefer". Here's the problem, I remember some cars being "iced". I don't know why that nags at me a bit when answering your question. I believe, but not positive, the "term" didn't become common until well after WWII and maybe late 50's.

 

BTW CN 6002 was not a reefer. See this site.

 

http://passcarphotos.info/Indices/RDC2.htm

 

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[Phone]

Vagabond,

 

Well, I couldn't stand it. I searched around for a little as I knew all "reefers" were not refrigerated in the now traditional manner. I well remember the "ice houses". It is also where you went in town to buy ice in bulk.

 

I cannot say how the word is/was added.

 

http://www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net/index...efrigerator-car

 

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[corydoras]

Definitely a refrigerated wagon Dave. Refrigerated shipping containers are called reefers too as are refrigerated cargo ships. My first trips to sea were on "reefers" carrying bananas from Central and South America to Europe.

Edited October 23, 2011 by corydoras

[Vagabond]

BTW CN 6002 was not a reefer. See this site.

 

Didn't say it was

 

CN 6002 is the Canadian National 4-8-2 steam loco that is pulling the string of reefers.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies - it seems a pretty widely used term - so it is surprising that I hadn't come across it before.

[Phone]

Vagabond,

 

Take a look at that guys site. Other carriers have similar photo galleries. CN6002, according to the photo, is an early "Vista" car. Pretty cool they were. Logged many an hour in one.

 

Then again, maybe this will help also. Here is a list of CN engine inventory.

 

http://cnlines.ca/CNcyclopedia/loco/cnsteam.php

 

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