An American Car and Foundry builder's photo of the first WRL reefer, #5001. Within weeks the car was redecorated and renumbered as PFE #50001.

An ACF builder's photo of Pacific Fruit Express car #50187, one of the first to wear the WP's "Feather River Route" emblem.

Two distinct and separate railroad refrigerator car companies have operated under the name Western Refrigerator Line. American Car and Foundry (often abbreviated as ACF) is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... A refrigerator car (or reefer) is a refrigerated boxcar, a piece of railroad rolling stock designed to carry perishable freight at specific temperatures. ...

The first, the Western Refrigerator Line (WRL) was a refrigerator car leasing company founded by the Western Pacific Railroad on January 1, 1923 specifically to service the fruit and green vegetable farmers in California's Central Valley. In early 1924, however, the WP and Pacific Fruit Express entered into an agreement whereby the PFE would handle all of Western Pacific's perishable goods. All of the WP's 2,000 pieces of existing rolling stock were placed into PFE's car pool, including an additional 775 units ordered that year. The Western Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark WP) was a Class I railroad in the United States. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... State nickname: The Golden State Official languages English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Senators Dianne Feinstein (D) Barbara Boxer (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 3rd 410,000 km² 4. ... The California Central Valley Part of the Valley as seen from overhead A typical Central Valley scene at ground level The California Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of the state of California. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A string of refrigerator cars owned by Pacific Fruit Express is supplied with fresh ice in the Spring of 1964. ...

All cars delivered prior to the agreement were painted yellow with black ends and roofs, were lettered "Western Refrigerator Line," and bore a diamond-shaped herald formed by the words "Perishable Products" surrounding the letters "WRL." Units arriving after the contract's execution were painted yellow-orange, were lettered and numbered according to PFE's classification, and were emblazoned with WP's "Feather River Route" emblem on each side.

After three decades of service, 900 of the best cars were reconditioned at PFE's Roseville, California shops. The units were outfitted with electrically-powered circulation fans and other improvements required to bring them up to current standards. By 1967, all but a few of the cars had been retired. Facing the need to invest millions of dollars toward the purchase of new, mechanically-cooled refrigerator cars, the Western Pacific chose instead to become a partner in the PFE's rival Fruit Growers Express in June of that year (which, at the time, controlled 24,000 mechanical reefers and 3,500 refrigerated tractor-trailer sets). Roseville is a city located in Placer County, California, USA, adjacent to the state capital of Sacramento. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... C&O #402021, an insulated boxcar, bears the colors and markings of the Fruit Growers Express Solid Gold line. ...

A handful of the original wood refrigerator cars were converted for ice service on the WP system.

The Western Refrigerator Line Company (WRX) was established in 1929 to operate a 500-car fleet of reefers for the Green Bay and Western Railroad (GBW). WRX was headquartered at Norwood Yard in Green Bay, Wisconsin until the property was purchased by the GBW in the 1960s. WRX rolling stock often sported the GBW's "Green Bay Route" emblem. By 1981, the WRX had become part of the Burlington Northern Railroad. 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Categories: Rail stubs | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Defunct companies | Wisconsin railroads ... County Brown Mayor Jim Schmitt, (R) Congressional Rep. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Rail stubs | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | California railroads | Colorado railroads | Idaho railroads | Illinois railroads | Iowa railroads | Kansas railroads | Kentucky railroads | Minnesota railroads | Missouri railroads | Montana railroads | Nebraska railroads | North Dakota railroads | Oregon railroads | South Dakota railroads | Washington railroads | Wisconsin railroads | Wyoming railroads ...

Western Refrigerator Line Company Roster, 1930–1970:

Source: The Great Yellow Fleet, p. 17.

References

• White, John H. (1986). The Great Yellow Fleet. Golden West Books, San Marino, CA. ISBN 0-87095-091-6.
• White, Jr., John H. (1993). The American Railroad Freight Car. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. ISBN 0-8018-5236-6.

External links

• History of the Green Bay Route: Western Refrigerator Line Company (WRX)