URTX RB #26010, 26012, 26571, and RS #37462

: Sugar Creek, OH. Sep. 7, 2019

Completely restored URTX reefer was found at the Age of Steam Roundhouse located at Sugar Creek, Ohio.

According to the markings, this RB #26571 was built by GATX in 1931. It was retired in the '60s[1]. The car carries the herald of the lessee Libby McNeill & Libby.

URTX 26500 – 26599 series Insulated Boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #26500 to 26599 with only a single car in place, listed as follows:

AAR Designation RB and description “Refrig., Sliding Doors” only.

The inside length of these cars is 39 feet 2 inches, inside width 8 feet 4 inches, inside height 7 feet 6 inches, outside length 41 feet 3 inches, extreme height 13 feet 5 inches and capacity 2464 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds.

[1] Winter 2016-2017 Roundhouse Reports, Age of Steam Roundhouse;




: Monticello, IL. Sep. 11, 2019

Another URTX reefers were found at Monticello Railroad Museum in Illinois.
According to the museum web site, URTX RB #26010 and 26012 were built by GATX in 1954 and 1955. Both cars carry heralds of the lessee MILW. The string of reefers at the museum shows quite a scenery.

URTX 25000 – 26214 series Insulated Boxcars
The ORER for January 1972 shows the group #25000 to 26214 with only 3 cars in place, listed as follows:

AAR Designation RB and description “U.T.R.X. Refrig.” only.

The inside length of these cars is 38 feet 5 inches, inside width 8 feet 4 inches, inside height 7 feet 6 inches, outside length 40 feet 6 inches, extreme height 13 feet 6 inches and capacity 2424 cubic feet or 75,000 pounds.

None of this series of the insulated boxcar is listed in 1974 ORER.


: New Haven, KY. Sep. 10, 2019

Another URTX reefer was found at Kentucky Railroad Museum located at New Haven, KY. According to the markings on the car, this UTRX RS #37462 was built by GATX in 1948. It also carries the herald of the lessee MILW.

URTX 37395 – 37489 series Reefers
The ORER for April 1974 shows the group #37395 to 37489 with 58 cars in place, listed as follows:

AAR Designation RS and description “U.R.T.X. Refrig., Air Circulating Fans, Half Stage Icing Grades in Position, Cap. Ice Bunkers: 6000lbs. Crushed Ice-5400 lbs. Chunk Ice-146 Cubic ft”.

The inside length of these cars is 32 feet 2 inches, inside width 8 feet 3 inches, inside height 7 feet 3 inches, outside length 43 feet 4 inches, extreme height 13 feet 10 inches and capacity 1984 cubic feet or 75,000 pounds.

: Monticello, IL. Sep. 11, 2019


これらURTXの保冷・冷蔵車は各地の博物館・保存鉄道で見つけた。
URTXとはUnion Refrigerator Transit Lineという会社のレポーティングマークである。会社自体は1929年にGeneral American Tank Car Corporation、後のGeneral American Transportation Corporationに買収されたが、レポーティングマークは生き残った。1974年版ORERではGATXのページに載っている。

Age of Steam Roundhouseで美しく修復された#26571は、コンビーフの缶詰などを生産するLibby’sへのリース車。他はなぜか全てMILWへのリース車である。破綻時に寄贈でもあったのだろうか。ここに示した車両のうち、Kentucky Railroad Museumの車だけが氷を用い冷気が循環する冷蔵車RSで、他は断熱が施されただけの保冷車RBである。

Monticelloでは、同系の車両を連ね現役時を彷彿とさせる編成で展示していて、なかなか壮観である。