How About a Yuengling Reefer?

In my search for prototype beer cars, I found a lot of breweries never owned or leased them...there were once a heck of a lot of breweries in the U.S....(a lot in Wisconsin,

but they had no monopoly).  So, did Yuengling historically actually own or lease any

logoed cars?  Somebody should do a book on just prototype beer reefers....there have

been fantasy cars done for breweries I found had no cars.

Somebody did make some Yuengling cars. I believe it was K-Line

I doubt Yuengling had their own cars; I was always curious to know all these O scale reefers we see were really prototypical.  What sparked my interest in this is the recent announcement of Atlas O's non-prototypical reefers, like the Altoona Brewery one.  So I thought it would be great to see Atlas do a Yuengling reefer.

I just searched and K-Line did a few Yuengling items, but I didn't see a reefer car.

Joe ,you are correct in saying it was K-line bit the cars and I believe an engine were only sold by the Yuengling gift store at the brewery. 

The OP might call the gift shop to see if the is any old stock.

 

Brad

love reefers, this is a nice one

 

I would buy one

I'm IN for two road numbers if you make them. PRRfan, are you up for spearheading this?

 

Not to discourage you, but the Natty Boh reefer project was a real handful. I had a similar idea about doing either (or both) a Rapa or Habbersett Scrapple reefer. Neither company was "receptive". Then I came up with a Farmer Bill fantasy car. Almost no interest here. 

 

Step 1, contact Yuengling to see if you can get permission to make these things. 

Step 2, get commitment for about 200 of these cars.

 

Gilly

Yuengling has, I  believe, issued two sets of trains.  The first was a series of freight cars. I don't know if there was an engine and caboose or not.

 

The second set was a passenger train issued one car at a time per year.  The cars were k-line and were still going whe kline folded.  Instead of going with k line by lionel they went mth.  The last car was issued by mth and the engine was a rail king gs4 daylight with ps2 that was painted in Yuengling colors and had special announcements.  So its the only set I know of produced by two different manufacturers. I am fortunate to have the whole passenger set - my parents dutifully bought me the new car each year it came out.  I  was very surprised when I received the engine as well. 

I just sold one on ebay...

 

 

I believe that the K-Line cars were are traditional sized cars, none scale sized like the ones Atlas makes.  Having been born in Pottsville, PA, I would love to have a scale Yuengling car on my layout even if its a fantasy car like my Natty Boh reefer.

 

Sirt, love what you did with the Reading car.   This would make a cool brewery scene.

 

Jim

I have written to Yuengling in the past asking them to do a scale reefer, either an Atlas one or an MTH Premier 36' reefer.  I've also talked to MTH about it.  Yuengling seems to want all branded merchandise to go through their gift shop.  They weren't really happy with the passenger car series, sales-wise, and said that they didn't think there was a market based on their experience with the passenger series.

 

I know I'd buy one of each road number in each label design if they would do a series again.

 

Andy

I would be in for a Yuengling reefer. I have the two Yuengling tank cars made by K-Line, a beige one and a purple car that could be used as a Piggy bank with a coin slot. I believe the purple car was sold by Yuengling. Not sure if the beige one had to be purchased from Yuengling or not. Both of mine were previously owned.

 

Pete

K-LINE TRAINS YUENGLING BEER LAGER HOPPER BOXED 1989, available with the "buy it now" option on one of those third party auction sites.

MTH Yuengling Steamer, a little bit on the flashy side.

 

Although not reefers, Frank’s Roundhouse also made three different Yuengling box cars in O gauge.  Here’s a link to a page with photos of them on Forum member rlplionel’s website: Frank's Roundhouse - Brewery Cars

 

The first car shown on that page is a car for another famous North Eastern PA brand – Stegmaier.

 

The Other Bill T

Coors had (has?) diesel switchers lettered for itself to work the Golden plant..dunno

but would like to know if Coors used steam switchers lettered for itself prior to that?

Am guessing Yuengling had no lettered engines for its plant?  Also wonder how "Yuenglng" is pronounced by its area locals?  Looks like an anglicization from the

German "Juengling", which would be pronounced "Yewngling", as in "few".  I have heard it pronounced "Yingling", as in "jingling"?

 

Thats how most of the locals pronounce it.

 

Pete

Here is what the brewery has left in the online store here.

 

K-line did make a Yuengling reefer way backin 1993 for the Black and Tan Beer. I will try to post a picture later. There was also a steam loco(different from the one listed in the store) and a tank car bank that I remember.

Also here is forum topic with pictures here 

 

Todd

K line made the Yuengling 170th anniversary tank car with display case a few years back.  I got one at York for a ridiculous price of $30 dollars.  It is heavy die cast and also acts as a bank.  They are on e bay every so often.

You are in luck here is the tank car.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-LINE...;hash=item234bfb521a

hope the car comes with a 12 pack of long necks. I'd buy one!!  Cheers

Thanks for the info, Gilly.  I remember some of the Natty Boh project with Atlas, but I couldn't recall the particular issues.  I've actually been thinking about this idea for months now, but have been debating to ask about others interested.  I'd figured I'd try to get the ball rolling and see what people thought. 

Thanks, Andy.  How long ago did you inquire about this with Yuengling?

Thank you to everyone who showed previous O scale Yuengling items, but just not at all what I have in mind.  Personally, I'd like to have either a Atlas O Master Series or MTH Premier woodside reefer.  The graphics need to be tasteful and something that would look period-correct if a prototype had really existed in the early 20th century (like the Natty Boh and recent Atlas O releases.)  IMO, I've seen too many fantasy reefers that just didn't look right to me.

Yes, K Line did make Yuengling cars. We stopped at the brewery in Pottsville on the way back from a train show in Reading several years ago, and there were some cars for sale in the gift shop. I don't remember what they were though.

Don

 

That 1985-2000 K-Line collectors guide for which I posted a scan of the cover in another thread today contains among other things a listing of production by railroad name.  The attached is an enlarged scan of the very last page in the book which shows their Yuengling items produced from 1990 through 1999.

 

There’s a total of 12 items listed.  BTW, the last item listed is a “Black/Tan” boxcar, not a reefer.

 

HTH and BTW when I lived in Western Pennsylvania years ago Yuengling wasn’t distributed there but it has become my favorite beer now that it is readily available here in Florida ever since they bought a former brewery in Tampa.

 

Bill 

 

Don't remember exactly, but it was right around the time K-Line was going under.  Don't know if their policy has changed, though.  Who knows, maybe the time has come to try again.  If I were going to try and convince them now, I would take some good photos of an Atlas wood-sided beer reefer and an MTH Premier 36' wood-sided reefer with an attractive beer theme and send it to them to let them know what kind of reefers we are talking about.  I would also point to this thread as evidence of interest.

 

Andy

 

 

It might help that some time has past since then.  I'll see how this thread progresses with folks that would be interested in this - so if you are, please speak up!

 

And on a sidenote, can we please not bring up the older K-line offerings - I'd like to see what interest we can get with a Atlas O/MTH offering.  Nothing wrong with the K-line stuff, just not anywhere near what I'm thinking - compairing apples to oranges.

I'm in for one.  Two or three if there are different road numbers.   Just sayin... 

Always interested in beer reefers.  Would buy all with unique road numbers.

 

Ramon

I'd be interested in Yuengling Premium reefer.

I think the first step is to contact them and see if your wants and their needs can come 

together. It might be since these are sold in their visitor center that price might be a factor. Non train people that come through might pick up a $50 car for family member or friend but not want to spend 100 bucks on a fine model. Would they be interested in a single design with a few road numbers or a collection of cars lettered for all of their common products along the lines of the passenger cars? My guess is toy buyers will far outnumber scale modelers in this case.

 

Pete

Count me in for two if they are made.

Ken

Yuengling will NOT have any more train cars made UNTILL all present stock is sold out at the gift shop. They will not allow anyone to make or use their name on anything.

 

I have been trying for the last 6 years to get yuengling to make scale billboard reefers made, even told them weaver models only requires 100 cars to do a custom run. They could do a run of 250 cars, 25 in each brand they sell. 

 

Unless everyone on this forum calls the gift shop at 1-570-628-4890 to request scale billboard beer reefers, don't hold your breath.

I would think that a Yuengling billboard reefer would sell well if it was marketed and advertised properly. If they had MTH do it and promote it on the MTH web site it would get a lot of attention.

I would definitely buy some. I had intentions to make my own with decals I bought off ebay....but a few years later still haven't gotten around to it.

Thanks for the info, Pete.  Bummer to hear they're reluctant to allow a run of these.  All I'd want is the permission to use the name and logos on a reefer car - that's it! 

 

Well actually, I'd also like to be able to buy the actual beer in the state I live in, but that's different story.