URTX Postwar Reefers and a Teaser

 

This is one of the first group of cars with the Dartnot end. GATC photo, Bob's Photo

Like the other major refrigerated car fleet operators, Union Refrigerator Transit bolstered its fleet in the postwar years through the addition of new equipment. URTX was owned by General American so naturally the cars were constructed at the company's East Chicago plant. The 1,000 cars were forty-foot steel cars with some interesting details. 

The deep crossbearers and some of the brake arrangement is visible in this excellent image. Bob's Photo

As can be seen, they had horizontal steel sheathing, with two sheets per half of the side (one overlapping the other at the edges) riveted to U-section flanged ("hat" section) structural steel members. The cars were also equipped with the Duryea Cushion underframe. The last group incorporated an unusual roof with two "flat" panels adjacent to the end panels with the hatches (most cars had one such flat panel.) All had air circulating fans, as well. General American seemed to have a preference for the Barber S-2 truck design and these were equipped with that type of truck.

Sept. 16, 1949, Vancouver, BC, Walter E. Frost, City of Vancouver Public Library

The ends were also either Dartnot (no smaller intermediate corrugations in the end panels; see image at top of page for a good view) or a combination of Dartnot/Improved Dreadnaught designs. The photo of URTX 37754 below illustrates this second "hybrid" type.

This car, URTX 37754, was equipped with the hybrid end as described in the text. Bob's Photo

Photos seem to indicate that as built all of these cars were leased to the Milwaukee Road, although in the absence of conflicting/supporting photos or information, I cannot state that definitively.

This car in service to Iowa Beef Packers, ca. late 60s, illustrates the full length side sill reinforcement applied to many cars in the 1960s

In later years, the side sills were augmented by full length support sections instead of the tabbed sections as built. Many were also leased to meat packers and emblazoned with large colorful schemes, although some remained decorated with the tilted Milwaukee emblem. There was an article in the September, 1999, Mainline Modeler by Loren Martens that included drawings of the second group of cars.

The teaser: years ago, George Toman created sides and one of the end styles used on these cars and Ryan Mendell created the parts for the Duryea underframe. I contributed with the other end and the roof with two flat panels at each end. Next year, I will be offering kits for both designs incorporating all these cool parts. Watch for the announcement. Thanks to George and Ryan for their usual phenomenal work!

Side with horizontal steel sheathing panels

Center of side with accurate door hinges

Duryea underframe components

Dartnot type end

"Hybrid" end

Roof with two flat panel sections at each end