At the beginning of the nation's greatest economic catastrophe, the Great Depression, General American and its subsidiary, the Union Refrigerator Co., introduced a new wood reefer design with straight center sill. The design was planned to replace the obsolete fishbelly design popularized by the USRA. The result was limited production.
Despite the limited run, the orphaned design made its mark on the Midwest by the application of familiar railroad and shipper logos. The practice of URTX was to apply the logos of using roads, such as Milwaukee, SOO and Minneapolis and St. Louis to its leased reefers. Similarly, the practice of the parent General American was to apply the logo of shippers to its leased cars, the famous red "Libby" in this instance.
The 1930 design was distinctive in its appearance. Roof and hatches were tongue in groove wood. Each hatch handle and rest was a pair of integrated metal "J" frames. This handle merged with the hinges and provided the lifting action for opening and closing.
The cars received KC brakes, which were replaced in the 1940- 50 period with AB brakes. A vertical, non-powered hand brake was used. Trucks were the planked, cast side frame ARA design.
As was the practice of URTX and GARX, the cars were placed in blocks according to their semi-permanent assignment. Circa 1948, the 5600-5699 series was assigned to the SOO. The 7700-7899, 8000-8029 (half stage icing cars) and 8030-8499 series were assigned to the Milwaukee. The 4900-4999 series was assigned to the M&St.L.
All cars were painted a yellow-orange with boxcar red roof, ends and fascia. The underframe and kickboard were black.
In the late steam and early diesel era there were two basic URTX lettering schemes. In the Thirties through the late Forties, elaborate serif lettering graced the cars along with the logo of the assigned railroad. Beginning in the early Forties, newly repainted cars got simplified san serif, or block lettering and the railroad logo.
General American supplied private car companies. Many former private car companies, such as Swift, were purchased by GATC during the 1930s and the cars then leased back to the formerowners.
Additional cars of the 1930 design were assigned to Libby, McNeil and Libby. GARX owned the former Libby fleet and reporting marks, LMLX, by the late '30s and leased the cars back to Libby. They could bear the famous bright red script Libby's slogan on the right side or be lettered simply with the leasing arrangement.
There were 55 LMLX 1930 design cars in the 1400-1454 series in 1948. In 1953 there were 56 in the 1400-1499 series, 20 in the 1500-1575 series with stage icing and 16 in the 1576-1599 series. By 1965, 1930 design and 36' cars all had been replaced by larger cars.
The Sunshine kits are vacuum cast in gray urethane. Kits include all detailing parts (except trucks and couplers). Full instructions and a Prototype Data Sheet are included.
Missing original decals, but I will provide a sheet of brand new Westerfield URTX decals appropriate for this car.
Shipped with USPS Ground to save you money. As always, I combine shipping for multiple wins.