Are express reefers necessarily be a part of a passenger train?

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
Express reefers were only used on passenger trains if there were perishables that were to be shipped at passenger speeds. If the railroad didn't have the call for them, they would leave them off the passenger train. The main difference between a standard reefer and an express reefer was that the express reefer was equipped with steam lines because the heating, cooling, and cooking in a passenger train was accomplished by the use of steam that was generated in the locomotive.
 

wjstix

Member
Yes, an express reefer like yours was set up so it COULD be used on a passenger train, between the engine and the regular passenger cars. That doesn't mean it HAD to be used there, just that it could be used in passenger trains.
 

CNJ999

Member
Much would depend upon what supposed purpose the express reefer was serving. If it had highly perishable goods onboard, it would be essentially limited to the consist of some high speed, long distance passenger train.

In the case of more common, longer-lived produce, if a standard reefer wasn't available, it could have been employed and placed on a secondary train, or fast freight...and if it happened to hold something like say potatoes, it might simply be included on any old freight train.

In short, express reefers saw a wide varitety of service situations beyond what they were specifically designed for, especially if more common reefers happened to be in short supply at the moment.

So...it is really up to the operator to assign a supposed cargo suitable to the situation that places the reefer in a particular consist, passenger or freight.

CNJ999
 
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