HO Scale Reefer Cars

Authentic HO Scale Refrigerator Car Models

This specialized collection features 26 authentic HO scale refrigerator car models representing the evolution of North American perishable freight transportation from the steam era through modern times. Accurail offers economical yet detailed 40-foot wood refrigerator cars with separately applied details including ice hatches, grab irons, and brake wheels, decorated in Canadian National, Grand Trunk, and Pacific Great Eastern liveries, plus a hinged door steel refrigerator car in Cornland Dressed Beef service. Bachmann provides 50-foot express reefers and steel reefers with fine decoration and smooth-running trucks, featuring iconic paint schemes from Denver and Rio Grande Western, Lehigh Valley, Canadian Pacific, New York Central, Pacific Fruit Express, Railway Express Agency, Burlington, Conrail, and Tropicana. These models capture the specialized equipment used to transport produce, dairy products, meat, and other temperature-sensitive commodities across the continent.

Refrigerator Car History and Operations

Refrigerator cars revolutionized North American commerce by enabling long-distance transportation of perishable goods from agricultural regions to urban markets. Wood refrigerator cars dominated the steam era with ice bunkers at each end providing cooling during transit, requiring regular ice replenishment at icing stations along rail routes. Steel refrigerator cars introduced improved insulation and structural durability for post-war operations, while express reefers featured streamlined designs and high-speed trucks for priority perishable service on passenger train schedules. Pacific Fruit Express operated one of the largest refrigerator car fleets serving California produce growers, while Railway Express Agency provided expedited less-than-carload perishable shipping. The collection showcases authentic railroad and private owner liveries including the distinctive orange Tropicana cars that became synonymous with refrigerated juice transportation.

Complete Your Freight Operations

Refrigerator cars integrate seamlessly with other freight car types to create realistic mixed freight consists and dedicated perishable trains. Combine reefer models with HO Scale Boxcar models for general merchandise service, HO Scale Gondola cars for bulk freight operations, and HO Scale Caboose models to complete your train consists. Power your freight operations with HO Locomotives from leading manufacturers including steam locomotives for vintage operations and diesel locomotives for modern era modeling. Explore the complete product lines at Accurail and Bachmann Trains for additional rolling stock, locomotives, track systems, and scenery materials to bring your model railroad to life with authentic perishable freight operations.