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Difference between revisions of "Refrigerator Cars"
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| − | Refrigerator cars, nicknamed reefers, are insulated box cars with cooling (and sometimes heating) devices used to transport perishable foods. They can easily be identified by their small doors and rooftop ice hatches. No evidence has emerged of DAR lettered reefers, but the DAR often hosted CPR reefers exporting fish and importing meat and fruit. Refrigerator cars also played an important role in winter to [[Apple Trains|export Nova Scotia's apple crops]]. The insulated sides helped keep apple barrels from freezing in sub-zero temperatures, assisted in very cold weather with portable stoves or charcoal heaters. While refrigerated cars protected apples and ensured a better quality product, the also has less capacity due to the thick walls and bunkers, and could only carry 200 barrels of apples as opposed to 300 barrels in a standard boxcar.<ref>Anne Hutton, ''Valley Gold'', Halifax: Petheric Press (1981) p. 83</ref> The railway also charged a higher rate for shipping in reefer cars. | + | Refrigerator cars, nicknamed reefers, are insulated box cars with cooling (and sometimes heating) devices used to transport perishable foods. They can easily be identified by their small doors and rooftop ice hatches. No evidence has emerged of DAR lettered reefers, but the DAR often hosted CPR reefers exporting fish and dairy products and importing meat and fruit. Refrigerator cars also played an important role in winter to [[Apple Trains|export Nova Scotia's apple crops]]. The insulated sides helped keep apple barrels from freezing in sub-zero temperatures, assisted in very cold weather with portable stoves or charcoal heaters. While refrigerated cars protected apples and ensured a better quality product, the also has less capacity due to the thick walls and bunkers, and could only carry 200 barrels of apples as opposed to 300 barrels in a standard boxcar.<ref>Anne Hutton, ''Valley Gold'', Halifax: Petheric Press (1981) p. 83</ref> The railway also charged a higher rate for shipping in reefer cars. |
| − | At least one apple exporter also owned his own refrigerator cars. [[E. E. Armstrong Apple Warehouse|Edward E. Armstrong, a large apple grower]] in [[Falmouth]] built and owned a pair of 37 foot of refrigerator cars in 1906 They were built at [[:Category:Rhodes, Curry & Co.|Rhodes, Curry & Co.]] in Amherst. Each had a 60,000 pound capacity and were painted light blue and lettered for the "Armstrong Refrigerator Line" on one end with a diamond shield and "Owned by E.E. Armstrong, Falmouth N.S." lettered on the other.<ref>''Amherst Daily News'', August 26, 1905, cited in Mike Parker, ''End of the Line The Dominion Atlantic Railway: A Trip Back in Time'', Lawrencetown NS: Pottersfield Press (2019), p. 196</ref> | + | At least one apple exporter also owned his own refrigerator cars. [[E. E. Armstrong Apple Warehouse|Edward E. Armstrong, a large apple grower]] in [[Falmouth]] built and owned a pair of 37 foot of refrigerator cars intended for fruit and dairy service in 1906. They were built at [[:Category:Rhodes, Curry & Co.|Rhodes, Curry & Co.]] in Amherst. Each had a 60,000 pound capacity and were painted light blue and lettered for the "Armstrong Refrigerator Line" on one end with a diamond shield and "Owned by E.E. Armstrong, Falmouth N.S." lettered on the other.<ref>''Amherst Daily News'', August 26, 1905, cited in Mike Parker, ''End of the Line The Dominion Atlantic Railway: A Trip Back in Time'', Lawrencetown NS: Pottersfield Press (2019), p. 196</ref> |
The DAR built and ran an [[Kentville Ice House|ice house in Kentville]], to provide blocks of ice for refrigerator cars.<ref>Jim Little "CPR Wood Sheathed Refrigerator Cars", CP Tracks, Summer 1999, page 11.</ref> Built sometime in the 1920s or 30s, it was located just behind the [[Kentville Station]]. | The DAR built and ran an [[Kentville Ice House|ice house in Kentville]], to provide blocks of ice for refrigerator cars.<ref>Jim Little "CPR Wood Sheathed Refrigerator Cars", CP Tracks, Summer 1999, page 11.</ref> Built sometime in the 1920s or 30s, it was located just behind the [[Kentville Station]]. | ||
Revision as of 18:04, 7 February 2020
Refrigerator cars, nicknamed reefers, are insulated box cars with cooling (and sometimes heating) devices used to transport perishable foods. They can easily be identified by their small doors and rooftop ice hatches. No evidence has emerged of DAR lettered reefers, but the DAR often hosted CPR reefers exporting fish and dairy products and importing meat and fruit. Refrigerator cars also played an important role in winter to export Nova Scotia's apple crops. The insulated sides helped keep apple barrels from freezing in sub-zero temperatures, assisted in very cold weather with portable stoves or charcoal heaters. While refrigerated cars protected apples and ensured a better quality product, the also has less capacity due to the thick walls and bunkers, and could only carry 200 barrels of apples as opposed to 300 barrels in a standard boxcar.[1] The railway also charged a higher rate for shipping in reefer cars.
At least one apple exporter also owned his own refrigerator cars. Edward E. Armstrong, a large apple grower in Falmouth built and owned a pair of 37 foot of refrigerator cars intended for fruit and dairy service in 1906. They were built at Rhodes, Curry & Co. in Amherst. Each had a 60,000 pound capacity and were painted light blue and lettered for the "Armstrong Refrigerator Line" on one end with a diamond shield and "Owned by E.E. Armstrong, Falmouth N.S." lettered on the other.[2]
The DAR built and ran an ice house in Kentville, to provide blocks of ice for refrigerator cars.[3] Built sometime in the 1920s or 30s, it was located just behind the Kentville Station.
Gallery
No 503 leading the Flying Bluenose, Train No. 123 at the Kentville Station with a CPR refrigerator car in background, circa 1920s.
The Kingsport Wharf with refrigerator car and visiting float plane beside the DAR freight shed and schooner F.B.G., circa July 1936.
References
- ↑ Anne Hutton, Valley Gold, Halifax: Petheric Press (1981) p. 83
- ↑ Amherst Daily News, August 26, 1905, cited in Mike Parker, End of the Line The Dominion Atlantic Railway: A Trip Back in Time, Lawrencetown NS: Pottersfield Press (2019), p. 196
- ↑ Jim Little "CPR Wood Sheathed Refrigerator Cars", CP Tracks, Summer 1999, page 11.
External Links
- http://www.nakina.net/cp/cp0.html - Earlier DAR/CPR boxcars and reefers
- http://www.nakina.net/cp/cp2.html - Later CPR boxcars and reefers
