HO R40-2 Wood Reefer, PFE #37569

In most cases where freight cars are concerned there isn't usually much to review. This model is not one of those as the attention to detail starts with the roof down to the rail. With a 1928 build date the roof is correct with the wood platforms in place around the ice hatches for firmer footing for the laborers handling the ice and they and the running boards are painted SP boxcar red over a black roof giving the car a very unique look in contrast with the early PFE yellow car body. Of course there are separately applied hand grabs brake wheel and stirrups. The cutting levers are also the correct old style and there are brake pipe hoses including the brake pipe angle cock. Under car has highly detailed components: brake pipe, full brake rigging right down to brake shoes and individual links in the hand brake chain. The car is equipped with K brakes (early style WABCO). Paint, lettering and graphics are top notch with a color UP Overland logo on one side and SP Lines (black and white) on the other. Couplers are metal, short center-set shank with true scale heads. Wheels are metal with metal axles and roll quite freely. At 104 grams out of the box it is 8 grams short of NMRA optimum and minimum standards of 112 grams for a 40 foot car. That is the only anomaly I’ve found and unless there turns out to be a tracking problem extra weight is not needed. However weight can be added easily if necessary. So (for me) this is a very high quality scale model car well worth the investment, and as such I recommend it to all.