First, let me try to butter you guys up a little. I have been amazed at the collective ability of the members of this forum to find answers to tough challenges.

So, here is what I have been scratching my head over.

I am looking for pictures of a private label reefer that was used by Spencer Packing Co. and leased from URTX. I know they made these cars on 40 foot steel versions and may have made some in wood sides too. The name of the company was Spencer Foods and it was founded in 1952, went public in 1965 and by the early 70's was the nation's third largest beef meat packing plant. In 1978 it was sold to Land O' Lakes and was eventually closed. It was located in Spencer, Iowa and the building is still there and being used for refrigerated storage I think.

These cars were loaded at the Spencer Packing Co and then switched into the "meat trains" that ran from Sioux Falls, South Dalota to Chicago every day. The trains were either all reefers or nearly so. I remember in addition to Spencer Packing cars there were also a lot of Morrell and Swift reefers in the trains.

Walthers makes a model of this car on HO but no one does in O. Atlas has shown some interest but asked for pictures of the original cars, hence my request for help.

I think that these cars represent some of the best of the midwest in the 50's and 60's. I want to model these "meat trains" on my layout pulled by Milwaukee Road F units and a bay window caboose.

Where does one find pictures of these old reefers?

Art