Kalmbach 12500 Model Railroader Guide to Produce Traffic & Trains

by: Jeff Wilson

See how rail moved America's produce!

From the late 1800s through the 1960s, the produce industry was a key railroad customer, as railcars transported all types of fruit and vegetables from various growing areas to the marketplace. The railroad industry faced a unique challenge: What was the best way to ship fresh produce across the U.S. to prevent spoiling? Produce Traffic & Trains looks at the development of refrigerator cars and how their development led to wide-scale growing and shipping of produce.

Covered topics include:

• The development of refrigerator cars, car fleets, and produce terminals
• Harvesting, loading, shipping, and delivering fresh produce, and later frozen products
• Running express trains, making ice and icing stations, and carrying out perishable operations