Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Modeling: February 2026

While building a Pacific Fruit Express (PFE) R-40-14 Refrigerator for a friend using an article titled “Kitbashing Pacific Express Steel Refrigerator Cars” in Prototype Railroad Modeling - Vol 4 (Speedwitch Media, 2017) I experienced an event I call “strange but true.” In the article, Ted Culotta describes his build of two PFE R-40-14 reefers, one using an InterMountain car and one using an Athearn car. At my monthly Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company operating session held while building the PFE reefer from an Intermountain kit provided by my friend, one of the crew members gifted me a RTR Atherarn PFE Refrigerator Car. The gifted PFE refrigerator car was numbered 45698 and lettered correctly for a PFE R-40-14 in a post 1950’s paint scheme; however, with incorrect ends and the number for one of two aluminum cars. Wow, I thought how "Strange" to receive the Athearn reefer at this time? No matter, the gifted Athearn PFE refrigerator car was used for this build of PFE Refrigerator 45398.

The prototype PFE refrigerator cars were built by Pacific Car & Foundry using an all-steel construction riveted design with 4/4 Dreadnaught ends. The build of 1,000 cars was assigned to series 44701-45700, Class R-40-14, A.A.R. Class RS. These cars looked much like the R-40-10 class; however, with several changes including Equipco intergrated steel hatch covers, open steel grid running boars and brake steps (Apex Tri-Lok) and placard boards. Cars numbered 44201-45700 were equipped with Equipco power hand brakes. The cars rode on Barber trucks. Photos of the PFE R-40-14 can be viewed in Prototype Railroad Modeling -Vol 4 (Speedwitch Media, 2017) and Pacific Fruit Express, PFE Second Edition (Signature Press, May 2003).

PFE R-40-14 45571 Tony Thompson Collection

The build began with the disassembly of the Athearn refrigerator car that did come with trucks and Kadee No. 5 couplers installed in the original coupler boxes. Once disassembled you have the Athearn car roof and ends molded as a part and the sides and underbody molded as a part. A car weight provided by Athearn had been attached to the underbody and the frame with coupler pockets placed over it.

Once disassembled I cut the incorrect ends from the roof with a UMM-USA saw with fine razor blade shaped saw blade. The kit weight was installed on the floor side of the underbody with sides with Prematex Clear Silicone RTV Adhesive Sealant. When adhesive had cured the roof with ice hatches removed and hatch hinge loops cut off, was installed on car sides. Dreadnaught 4/4 ends, resin cast in M&N Shops using Details West ends for master, were installed with CA ( adhesive used for assembly and adding of parts unless another adhesive specified) to make the car body. With car body assembled the grab irons and ladders were carved off.

PFE R-40-14 ready for upgrade details.

On the underbody a new floor cut from Evergreen #4060, V-groove siding .040 thick with .060 spacing, was installed. The underframe with all brake detail and coupler pockets removed was installed. Kadee #262 coupler pockets with Kadee #148 couplers inserted were installed with Fastenal 3/16” screws. Accurail ARA cast steel with spring plank trucks with InterMountain wheel sets were installed with kit screws. The trucks as of this post have not yet been changed to Barber Trucks. The car was placed on a digital postal scale that showed the car weight to be 3.6 ounces.

Not having an InterMountain replacement roof in inventory as suggested in Culotta article, the Athearn roof was reworked. On the roof all holes left by cutting off hatches hinge loops were filled with MEK Goop. After MEK Goop was setup it was sanded with various sanding stick grits. The areas next to hatches on the hinge side where hinge loops were removed had roof ribs, Evergreen #8102, 1 x 2 strip styrene, installed.

Roof holes filled, sanded and roof ribs installed.

After additional sanding the reworked areas were hand painted using Vallejo Model Color mix of Mahogany Brown 70.846, 50% and Cavalry Brown 70.982, 50%. And, on car sides the car number 45698, black UP herald, the 1957 reweigh date and the printed on mechanical fan were removed with cotton swabs dipped in 91% isopropyl alcohol.

Repaired areas painted.

When the painted roof was dry, ice hatches, resin cast in M&N Shops using Sunshine Models as a master, were installed.

Resin ice hatches installed.

Rather than finishing additional roof work needed, the ladders were installed on sides and ends. Before adding the ladders the areas where molded on ladders and grab irons were carved off were hand painted with a mix of Vallejo Model Color Light Orange #70.911, with a touch of Vallejo Model Color #70.950, black. When paint was dry, Grandt Line #5124, ladders (now available as Tichy Train Group ladders) were installed on sides and ends. The end ladders were shortened as on prototype photos. Ladders were installed using mounting brackets made with Evergreen #101, .010 x .030 strip styrene. After mounting, ladder rungs were removed with a PBL nipper and replaced with rungs bent from Tichy Train Group (Tichy) .010 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW). A Yarmouth Model Works (out of business) etched brake step was installed on the B end. On the sides the door hinges and latch hardware were colored black with a Sharpie pen.

Ladders installed.

Back to the roof to complete the roof work needed. On ice hatches, ice hatch rests were simulated with MEK Goop. Plano Model Products #12079, ice hatch levers were installed. On the roof ribs next to the ice hatches, ice hatch rest areas as on the prototype were made by notching the ribs and using MEK Goop to add a “U” shaped opening. A Kadee #2001, Apex running board was installed. And, the final roof detail, the roof grab irons bent from Tichy #1101, .010 PBW with Yarmouth Model Works eye bolt for corner leg.

PFE Reefers with roof hatches showing.
Internet Photo, data unknown. Author Collection

Running board installed and Ice hatch rests made.

Now, on the sides Kadee #2250, bracket grab irons and InterMountain placard boards (tack) were installed. The Kadee bracket grab irons had the lower right and upper left mounting pins cut off prior to mounting in holes marked with YMW jig and drilled with a number 75 drill. The removal of the two pins allows a little wiggle room to get the bracket handhold straight. I installed only an upper placard board as that is what appeared in the photo I used; however, in the Southern Pacific Freight Car Painting and Lettering Guide (Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society, 2016) a lower placard board is shown in diagram and on car in prototype photo with 1946 lettering scheme.

Bracket grab irons and placard boards installed.

Next, the B work was done. On the B end details parts were installed as follows:

Brake step with mounting brackets , etched Yarmouth Model Works
Brake housing, Tichy from AB brake set # 3013
Brake housing hole enlarged with #56 drill for Kadee brake wheel
Bell crank, Tichy from AB brake set #3013
Chain, Tichy from AB brake set #3013
Brake rod, Tichy #1102, .015 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW)
Brake rod clevis to attach brake rod to bell crank, Tichy turnbuckle #8021
Retainer valve, resin from parts box
Retainer line and brackets, Tichy #1100, .008 diameter PBW
Placard boards, InterMountain
Grab irons on sill bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
Grab iron bracket type, grab iron with handhold cut off after install with nipper
Grab iron bracket handhold, bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
Brake wheel, Kadee #2031 Equipco was installed later.

B end details installed.

Equipco brake wheel installed.

Now, underbody work was done. The brake components were drilled to accept piping with #79 drill and were installed with other parts as follows:

Brake cylinder, Athearn removed from frame
Brake cylinder piston, Tichy, #3013 AB set
Brake cylinder bracket, from parts box
Control Valve (AB), from parts box
Control Valve bracket, Tichy, #3013 AB set
Air reservoir, Athearn removed from the frame
Air reservoir mounts, cut off sill steps from parts box
Ice bunker drains, InterMountain

Basic brake components installed.

After allowing a period for the CA to fully set up, brake levers, brake lever hangers, piping and brake rods were installed as follows:

Brake Lever, brake cylinder, cut from Evergreen #8108, 1 x 8 strip styrene
Brake Lever, floating (cut) cut from Evergreen #8106, 1 x 6 strip styrene
Brake lever adjustment plate, parts box
Brake lever hangers bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
Piping control valve to air reservoir, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
Pipe from brake cylinder to control valve, Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW
Pipe unions and tee, MEK Goop (plastic melted in MEK)
Train line, bent from Tichy #1103, .020 diameter PBW
Brake rods, Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW
Brake rod clevises, MEK Goop (plastic melted in MEK)
Dirt collector, parts box
Dirt collector pipe to train line, scrap plastic rod
Chain, Tichy #8334, black 40 links per inch

Underbody details completed.

PFE R-40-14 reefer was ready for the paint. The underbody was hand painted with Vallejo/MicroMark Model Air Tarnished Black X29022X2.

Underbody painted.

Since only the roof and ends needed to be painted, sides were masked with Tamiya masking tape. The roof and ends were cleaned with a cotton makeup swab dipped in 91% isopropyl alcohol. And, roof and ends were air brushed with Vallejo Grey Surface Primer 73.601. To quickly dry the primer a hair dryer was used.

As soon as the hair dryer had the primer coat dry, the roof and ends were airbrushed Vallejo Black Red #70.859. The Black Red (my eyes) is a match to the paint color chip in the PFE Book. Again to quickly dry the paint the hair dryer was used. Back to the work desk to remove the tape and add the needed decals. At the work desk when peeling off the Tamiya masking tape an unexpected surprise and dismay. The tape took with it about 70% of the lettering, sections of the remaining lettering and door hardware color. Ugh! My use prolonged use of the hair dyer had caused the problem. Lesson learned. One solution, remove all the remaining lettering which was done with cotton swabs and 91% isopropyl alcohol. And, touch up areas needing it with the mix of Vallejo Model Color Light Orange #70.911, with a touch of Vallejo Model Color #70.950, black. Vallejo Model Color Black was also used to hand paint the door hardware.

Lettering except for upper left corner removed.

Rather than wait any longer to install uncoupling levers and sill steps, it was done now. Uncoupling levers were bent from Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW and installed.. Uncoupling lever brackets were made from Evergreen #291, .060 angle glued to poling pocket plate and trimmed to shape with PBL nipper. For sill steps, Yarmouth Model Works R-10 etched sill steps, #205, were installed. Both installs were hand painted with appropriate colors.

Uncoupling levers and sill steps installed.

Again when dry, the car body was airbrushed with Vallejo Gloss Varnish 70.510 for a gloss base for decals. After drying overnight, decals were applied. Decal sets used were MicroScale set, PFE 40 ft. Refrigerator Cars (1946-1952) #87-414 and Speedwitch Media set, D182, PFE R-40-14 (decal business sold to National Scale Car). I used photos in above listed photo sources and Southern Pacific Freight Car Painting and Lettering Guide (Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society, 2016) to apply decals for 1946 lettering scheme. The book includes PFE.

Decals were soaked off in distilled water and applied to the car body where MicroScale Micro Set had been applied with a brush. After the decal was applied in the Micro Set and positioned the edges had MicroScale Micro Sol applied. Any excess solution was sucked away with the torn edge of a paper towel. Again when dry, car body sprayed with Vallejo Gloss Varnish #70.510 to better hide edges of decals and protect decals during handling. Again when dry, the car body was sprayed with Model Master Acryl #4636 (no longer manufactured), to protect decals and provide a flat finish for weathering.

Decals applied.

Before putting Pacific Fruit Express refrigerator 45398 in service the car was weathered with Pan Pastels. Pan Pastels used were Orange Medium 280.6 applied with a Pan Pastels flat sponge on the sides, Paynes Grey Extra Dark 840.1 applied with a large makeup brush over the entire car body and Orange Extra Dark 280.1 applied with a micro applicator on the trucks.

PFE R-40-14 45398 weathered.

Pacific Fruit Express Refrigerator 45398 was ready for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving today, Shaping tomorrow.” A car card was made for PFE 45398, the final step to put the a car in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad.

PFE 45398 spotted at Kruger's, Minneapolis, Minn.

I want to say, “Thank You” to Tony Thompson for photo and permission to use on this blog. And, for his help reminding me of the car specialties pages in the PFE Book.

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Lester Breuer

Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Modeling

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Pacific Fruit Express R-40-14 Refrigerator 45398