Introduction

Branchline Trains 1318 HO Scale 40′ Wood Reefer Kit Morrell Hams MRX #’s Vary

NOS (New Old Stock)

In many ways, wood reefers were the classic steam era freight car. These colorful cars provided a welcome contrast to long strings of red boxcars and black hoppers. Some of the most unique cars were those built for Union Refrigerator Transit (URTX) and the Chicago & North Western controlled North Western Refrigerator Lines (NWX).

The URTX cars were built in large numbers in the 1920s. Painted bright yellow with red ends and roof these cars carried a wide variety of billboard paint schemes. These schemes were applied to cars that were leased to private owners and served as rolling advertisements for their products. The billboard era lasted until July 1934. On this date, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulation #201 came into effect. This ruling stated that after this date no more cars could be painted with the lessees name in lettering any larger than 12″. As Of January 1937, cars painted in billboard schemes could not be accepted for interchange between railroads and by the beginning of World War II all these cars had been pained back into the original owners standard colors. These cars also saw service on the Soo Line, Milwaukee, Green Bay & Western, Nickel Plate and others.

In the 1920s ACF built approximately 3000 wood reefers for the North Western Refrigerator Lines (NWX). Painted gray and red these cars also served as the canvas on which many of the famous billboard reefers were painted. After the heyday of the billboard era they formed the backbone of North Western Refrigerator Expresss fleet. Morrell Refrigerator Line (MRX), Western Refrigerator Lines (WRX), and others owned additional cars of this same design. Many of these cars lasted into the 1960s making for a long service life through the most popular modeling eras.

FEATURES:

• Separate door bars, grab irons, ladders and cut bars
• Two optional styles of roof hatch
• Fully detailed underbody
• Accurate paint & lettering

NOTE: NOS (New Old Stock) / USED items are as-is and not returnable. If you have any questions please ask before purchasing.