Cryo-Trans Refrigerator Cars

General Notes:

1. Plate C Cars - The 200 cars in the CRYX 1003-1199 (197 cars) and 1201-1203 (3 cars) groups were rebuilt in 1988-1989 from existing Plate C cars by Coast Engine & Equipment (CEECO) from the 300 cars in the ATSF 620300-620599 group.
2. Plate C Cars - The 19 cars in the CRYX 1204-1222 group rebuilt in 1989-1990 from existing Plate C cars by Coast Engine & Equipment (CEECO) from the 100-car SSW 28700-28799 group.
3. Plate F Cars - CRYX 1200, 1223-1342, 1400-1438 (160 cars) built new in 1987-1991 as Plate F cars by Gunderson, Inc., a subsidiary of The Greenbrier Companies since 1985.
4. Plate F Cars - CRYX 2000-2149 (150 cars) built new in 1996 as Plate F cars by Gunderson, Inc., a subsidiary of The Greenbrier Companies since 1985. Built as unfinished car shells by Greenbrier in Mexico; shipped to Greenbrier locations in Oregon and Washington for final finishing.
5. Plate F Cars - CRYX 3400-3434 (35 cars), 3452-3474 (23 cars) and 3500-3526 (27 cars) were former First Union Rail (FURX) cars, numbered in the FURX 690000 series. CRYX 3400–3434 (35 cars) were rebuilt as mechanical refigeration cars. The remaining cars remained as CO2 cars. CRYX 3452-3474, as FURX cars, were leased to Lamb-Weston. Car names were applied to the doors only after being repainted by Cryo-Trans.
6. "The CRYX 3400 and 3500 series are from the FURX 690000 series (some of which were previously in the CAGX 9600 series). Some of these cars received a more hasty repainting: a Cryo-Trans decal being applied to the left of the doors, on original white paint (the "excess height" portion of the ends is still blue). At least one of these cars still has a logo from a previous company on the sides. These cars are being renumbered into three groups: CRYX 3400-3434, 3452-3474, and 3500-3526. The cars in the low 3400 series have been rebuilt to mechanical reefers from cryogenic cars, but according to UMLER the cars in the other two series remain cryogenically cooled. The cars that haven't been repainted also haven't been given names yet." (Carl Shaver, Trainorders, August 7, 2011)
6. These cryogenic cars typically had 6 to 9 inches of high-density foam insulation to maintain the sub-zero temperatures required for the CO2 snow.
7. Right-Side Logos (research by Darrell Sawyer). All of these cars are now gone, mostly rebuilt into mechanical reefers with the standard Cryo-Trans markings.
   • CRYX 1223-1272 (Carnation) blt 1990
   • CRYX 1273-1322 (Universal Frozen Foods) blt 1991
   • CRYX 1323-1342 ("Protecting Today's Perishables for Tomorrow") blt 1991
   • CRYX 2000-2149 (McCain up to ~2070, "Perishables" slogan on later cars) blt 1996
8. AAR Codes RC and R690. (The RC class was added in 1987 to accommodate these new cryogenic cars.) (1992 photo of CRYX 1089 shows it as AAR class RB.)

Notes:

1. CRYX 1000 was the original test bed for the cryogenic refrigerator car using the Ralph Hill patent. It was a Plate C car, originally built by Fruit Growers Express.
2. "It seems BN and FGE started the ball rolling in 1983 with a single car rebuilt at FGE's Alexandria shops. In 1986, this car became CRYX 1000 (named the "Alexandria") and looks like a typical FGE smoothside 60-foot RBL except for the smooth roof." (Scott Chatfield, RailModel Journal, March 1994)
2. CRYX 1200 was the test bed for the Cryo-Trans high-cube Plate F cars and was built by Gunderson in August 1987 and was the first new refrigerator car to be built since 1982. It is also the first new built (not converted) CO-2 cooled car and had a new AAR designation: RC.
3. In 2016, Cryo-Trans CRYX 1200 was fully refurbished by Cryo-Trans in Washington. Upon completion, it was donated to B&O Railroad Museum in May 2017. Retains all cryogenic equipment. Named "Colorado Springs."
4. "In 1987, one experimental high-cube reefer was received - CRYX 1200 ("Colorado Springs") - which matches the current production cars except for being 4 feet shorter and having a wider plug door." (Scott Chatfield, RailModel Journal, March 1994)

General Notes:

1. Some sources state that CRYX 3000-3399 (400 cars) were rebuilt as mechanical refrigeration cars in 2002-2003 from retired CRYX 1000-, 1100-, 2000-, 2100-series CO2 cars. But photos show 3000-series cars with nose-mounted refrigeration units and newer body design. Possibly "rebuilt" for tax purposes, but with all-new bodies and refrigeration units. By August 2006, four cars had been retired.
2. CRYX series 3000-3263 (264 cars), rebuilt as mechanical refrigeration cars by Gunderson in 2000 in-part from CRYX CO2 series 1223-1272 (50 cars; built in 1990) and CRYX CO2 series 1273-1342 (70 cars; built in 1991).
3. CRYX series 3231-3263, renumbered in reverse order from SOO series 288000-288032, originally from CRYX series 2000-2149 built by Gunderson, Jun-Jul 1996. To SOO in 2003; to CRYX 3231-series in 2005. A photo of a SOO car shows that it is lettered like any CRYX car, but with SOO reporting marks.
4. One source shows that Cryo-Trans purchased the Lamb Weston cars in 2009, and that they became the CRYX 3300 (Class RP), 3400 (Class RB), and 3500 series cars.
5. One source shows that Cryo-Trans purchased the Simplot cars in 2010, which were renumbered as CRYX cars in the same 3300-, 3400-, and 3500-number series, but another source shows that the Simplot cars are still owned by Simplot with JRSX reporting mark. JRSX = J.R. Simplot. They have been rebuilt in a similar manner as the CRYX cars, made into mechanical reefers.
6. CRYX series 4000-4099 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson), Dec 2002 to Apr 2003 (CRYX 4083, "Hooterville," was reported as being rebuilt from CRYX 2144 "Hooterville."
7. By June 2008, four cars in the CRYX 4000-4099 group had been retired (numbers not known); by September 2017, CRYX 4003, 4008, 4015, 4050, 4056, 4069, 4072 (7 cars) had also been retired.
8. CRYX 5500-series were 72-foot.
9. UP's ARMN 5850-5899 (50 cars) are leased since April 2018 from Cryo-Trans (CRYX) cars, with the same CRYX numbers. ARMN 5888 was seen in August 2025 still in full CRYX paint, with ARMN reporting mark. Leased to UP; returned to Lineage later in 2026.
10. Sources vary of the cubic-foot measurement of the 68' and 68' 6" cars in the 6000-series, both 7567 cu. ft. and 7572 cu. ft. are shown. Available photos appear to display 7567 cu. ft. These cars are generically known as 68-foot cars, but are in-fact 68' 6" interior length.
11. The 7000-series are generically known as 72-foot cars, but are actually 72' 3" interior length.

General Notes:

1. Sources vary of the cubic-foot measurement of the 68' and 68' 6" cars in the 6000-series, both 7567 cu. ft. and 7572 cu. ft. are shown. Available photos appear to display 7567 cu. ft.
2. The 7000-series are generically known as 72-foot cars, but are actually 72' 3" interior length.
3. LINX 7300-series are being rebuilt with refrigeration units and being renumbered as LINX 10000-series as of 2025, retaining the car names.