New Frisco Refrigerator Cars - SLSF 222000, SLSF 333000 Series

More great news from our friends at Athearn!

Athearn has announced a new freight car that is a spot on match for the Frisco's modern refrigerators. These cars were clones of the Fruit Growers Express (FGE) refer cars of the era.

The Frisco purchased these modern refrigerators in two series during 1971. These cars were produced by FGE at their plant in Alexandria, VA. These cars were designated RPL - Mechanical Refrigerator (RP) equipped with adjustable loading and stowing device (the L designation).

Production included SLSF 333000-333049 (50 cars) in May 1971 and SLSF 222000-222049 (50 cars) in September 1971. These cars were 64' 11" (51' 0" inside) long, 15' 6" (10' inside) tall, with a capacity of 4,270 cubic feet. They had a capacity of 165,000 pounds (82.5 tons) for the first series and 125,000 pounds (62.5 tons) for the second series.

The cars featured roller bearing trucks, Berwick underframes, 20-inch Keystone end-of-car cushion systems, drop side sill, 4 4 stamped ends, riveted sides by Youngstown, short 4 rung ladders at the four corners, 10' 6" plug doors and diagonal panel roofs. In addition to the standard stirrup steps at the end side corners, extra steps were provided at the doors (left of center) and refrigerator compressor power plant (left side only).

The interiors featured 2 piece load dividers by Equipco (333000 series) and Evans Products (222000 series). York refrigeration compressors were powered by Emerson power units on the A end. These units were behind screened ventilation and access panels (2 on the left side, 1 on the right). Fuel was supplied by underframe mounted diesel fuel tanks. A short exhaust stack exited through the roof.

The car's sides, ends and cushion underframe extensions were painted bright "reefer" (of course) yellow. The trucks, underbody and fuel tanks were black. Lettering was black on yellow or white on black. As they weathered, the sides darkened especially around the thousands of rivets, seams, door details and ventilation screens that helped these details to really stand out.

The Frisco coonskin herald was the outline style only, with the yellow car body color providing the background. It was placed above the reporting marks to the left of the main door. To the right of the door was the "Ship it on the Frisco" slogan. The "it" was white on a black parallelogram. They also included lettering below the slogan indicating "CUSHONED CAR".

In service the cars worked shipping refrigerated commodities in pool and regular service. They were a common visitor to the Kraft cheese plant in Springfield, MO. To keep the cars in the maximum possible service area (i.e. east coast service pools), the car dimensions were kept below Plate C.

The Athearn cars are available both with and without sound. The sound duplicates the small diesel engine that powered the refrigeration unit and fuel pump. Sound equipped units will cycle on and off as does the prototype when cooling is needed.

Only thing we need now it to promote the production of these units in the Frisco's paint scheme. Hopefully they will do numbers in both series (SLSF 222,000 and 333,000) as they did with the insulated "beer" cars in the SLSF 600,000 and 700,000 series.

Please see http://www.athearn.com/Products/Defa...odID=ATHG63249

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

 

Great news as Athearn continues to support Frisco modelers.

Just announced are Frisco refrigerators! There will be three numbers, 333009, 333027 and 333048. Each number will be produced in a sound and non sound version. Prototype car features include Phase 1 early body, early short exhaust stack with flapper, riveted sides, no door hangers, drop sill and early style rod cut levers. Estimated time of arrival is January 2016. Please see the following link http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/032715/05_Gen_FGE_Reefer_032715.pdf.

What a great time to be in the hobby!

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

Mark

 

For that much think I could hire the kid next door to walk beside the car with his i-phone playing the motor sound, and still come out ahead

 

The Athearn website identifies it this way:

• Sound recorded from actual genset
• Sound randomly cycles on and off
• Utilizes minimum track power
• Raise and lower the volume by adjusting the potentiometer

Based on that description, they will be like the last Genesis reefer issue; sound of the reefer unit only.

My preference will be to order non-sound and then install the Tsunami Sound Car decoder. With the Sound Car decoder, one will have the following feature available:
SoundCar Sound Effects

• Brake cylinders
• Brake squeal
• Clickety-clack: Adjustable for 2-, 4- and 6-axle cars
• Coupler clank and pin drop
• Coupler release with glad hand separation
• Flange squeal
• Flat spots
• Emergency brake valve (“big hole”): Activated when the emergency stop button is pressed
• Generators: User-adjustable for reefers and passenger cars
• Hand brake tie down and untie
• Retainer bleed-off
• lighting outputs for adding a green unit "on" light and for a rear end device.

and...
Intelligent Consisting; you can add/remove the car to/from a train with the waive of a magnet
the ability to readily add a Current Keeper so momentary loss of power pickup at the wheels won't make the sound drop out.

Contact me via PM if you are interested in the Sound Car decoder or Current Keeper.
​

 

Deb Zucker at Spring Creek Model Trains said that they will sell these for $38.00 without sound. Based on that margin, the ones with sound should be about $65.00, but verify with Deb.