Fruit Growers Express was a railroad refrigerator car leasing company that began life as a produce-hauling subsidiary of Armour and Company’s private refrigerator car line. In 1919 the Federal Trade Commission ordered the company’s sale for anti-trust reasons. Incorporated on March 18, 1920, the firm took possession of 4,280 pieces of rolling stock, repair shops at Alexandria, VA and Jacksonville, FL, and numerous ice plants and other facilities scattered throughout the East Coast. By year’s end, the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, New Haven, and Norfolk and Western railroads became major stockholders.
Car #57708 built in 1924 was one of several thousand refers owned by FGE. It is now preserved at the Railroad Museum of PA.
Here is the real #57708 at the Museum.
The side doors and ice hatches on the roof open.
Interior photo showing the ice bins.
Open ice hatch.
Brickshelf Gallery for this car.
MOC Pages
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