N ATH 57' FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound (ATH-1497)

57-foot Fruit Growers Express Mechanical Reefer is an HO-scale freight car designed to haul perishables across a layout. Available as a sound-equipped model with onboard SoundTraxx sound or as a data-only green variant, this fully assembled and ready-to-run car features prototype-accurate paint and printing that capture the era’s refrigeration aesthetics.

Under the shell, authentic detailing includes underframe parts such as Keystone cushioning, air brake reservoir, control valve, brake cylinder, and a fuel tank. Two exhaust-stack styles—straight pipe with a flapper or a T-shaped “smokejack”—let you match the prototype era. The car rides on 100-ton roller bearing trucks with 36-inch machined metal wheels that run on Code 55 and 80 rail, and it uses body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers for reliable coupling. The injection-molded, highly detailed body is weighted for smooth operation and designed for a minimum radius of 9¾ inches (11 inches recommended). Sound-equipped versions feature real reefer audio with playback that cycles on and off and volume adjustable via the sound board; data-only green units provide a faithful starting point for grime and weathering. Reefers like this illustrate the postwar leap in refrigeration technology and the widespread use of reefers by Fruit Growers Express to move perishable freight coast to coast.