MTH #20-94367 UP-SP PFE reefer

I love 'em and have a bunch, about six of these specific 2013 models, and also Atlas and Lionel premium-level PFE reefers, for a total of 25.  All three companies make excellent models and there really isn't much to choose between.  Some of the Lionel are much better rollers - they have really low friction bearings, but all are quite good. 

2014-Year of The Reefer!

With all the Big Boys, SP Cab Fwd and FEF(MTH), I'm surprised there are any left in circulation! 

I own a LOT PFE Reefers (Lionel mostly, 15 MTH) and they're some of my favorite rolling stock.  Then again, I model UP Steam Era so that makes since.

I don't remember the author, but there is a book titled, Pacific Fruit Express, with a Big Boy and reefers on the cover.  It's excellent, sure it is on Amazon cheap.

Thanks for the pictures!

I have several of those MTH reefers, mostly decorated for breweries but I do have one PFE. I agree that they are nicely detailed. They are about as fragile as an Atlas car so they need to be handled with great care. 

Does anyone know if that particular car is correct for PFE? It's a generic 36' car. Atlas has produced a bunch of PFE woodside reefers but as far as I know the Atlas ones are all 40-footers.

Not prototypical.  The R-30-16 was a rebuild of 40' reefers, and according to the Thompson/Church/Jones book there where no 36' reefers at all.

As already pointed out the MTH PFE wood reefer is freelanced.  I'm hooked on the look of PFE reefer blocks and I'm always on the lookout for 3 rail cars with reasonable detail to convert to 2 rail. A scale dimensioned PFE reefer to consider is the Crown Models (now Weaver) wood sheathed reefer with steel roof and ends. It was modeled on the PFE R30-18 class - one of the interesting postwar rebuilds of older wood PFE reefers.  With cast on ladders and grabs it lacks the level of detail now found in higher end 3 rail offerings. 

For those looking for a highly detailed (albeit more fragile) PFE 40' wood reefer 40'  consider the Red Caboose's R30-12-9.  It was originally offered as a kit (similar to Intermountain in complexity) and later offered fully assembled. Weaver 3 rail trucks with NMRA spec bolster height would make them an easy conversion.  They were offered in at least 3 PFE lettering schemes and in a dozen or so car numbers.  They show up on eBay from time to time. 

Ed Rappe