High-Cube Plate F Refrigerator Cars

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This page was last updated on April 17, 2026.

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Operators Of High-Cube Plate F Refrigerator Cars

(View an interim roster of other operators' high-cube Plate F cars)

BNSF

BNSF 793000-794699 (1700 cars), built in 2001 and 2004 by Trinity, are R660 RP mechanical refrigerator cars with 7883 cu. ft. and 72'-2" IL, and are very similar (if not identical) to the Greenbrier-Gunderson cars built for CRYX and LINX.

The BNSF 73'  Super Reefers (mechanical) were designed with assistance from JR Simplot.

This was reported in 2023 by the former BNSF Assistant Vice President of Perishable Marketing and Sales during the time period. He had responsibility for the pricing, profitability and revenue for BNSF perishable intermodal as well as carload perishables during his time in that role. More specifically, he was responsible for the development, business case, and capital request of the BNSF super Reefers. So he was intimately aware and involved in the pricing and competitive situation of Reefer traffic across the entire BNSF system. He had multiple meetings over a period of years with Greg Sargis Director of Logistics for JR Simplot during that time period. He was instrumental in providing a customer perspective for the development of that car.

(Read more about the BNSF mechanical refrigerator cars - built after the cryogenic era had ended)

CEFX

CEFX series 992114-992143 (30 cars), built in 2006 by Trinity, are R660 RP refrigerator cars with 6838 cu. ft. and 64'-0" IL, and are very similar (if not identical) to the Greenbrier-Gunderson cars built for CRYX and LINX.

Cryo-Trans Inc.

(Sources include a wide variety of internet searches, including current and abandoned websites at Archive.org, and various issues of the Freight Car Journal. The focus of this page is to establish a timeline using sources not previously readily available.)

(More than anything else, this page is a compilation of research notes, and is not intended to be definitive.)

During the early 1980s the availability of mechanical refrigerated rail cars owned and/or operated by the nation's railroads was becoming a critical issue that confronted the ever-expanding frozen food industry. Rising fuel prices, escalating truck equipment costs, and driver shortages increased the shippers' dependency on the truck transportation that had replaced the railroad systems as an effective mode of transportation.

The railroads have maintained a posture of declining interest towards the replacement of, or adding to their refrigerated car fleets. A couple of reasons are cited for this attitude on the part of the railroads. The first reason was the high cost to maintain the typical mechanical refrigerator rail car. A second reason is the high cost of new equipment replacement. As a result, the availability of mechanically refrigerated boxcars had declined more than fifty percent since late 1970s and the numbers continued to dwindle at a rate of three to five percent per year. As a result, finding an alternative to the mechanically refrigerated railcar became an industry top priority.

The first Cryo-Trans rail cars were delivered in 1986, with several new groups added after that. The first cars were unique in that they used carbon dioxide (CO2) to maintain the cold temperatures. In 1998 Cryo-Trans abandoned the CO2 technology and maintained a fleet of mechanical refrigerator cars. Cryo-Trans was sold in 2021 to Lineage Logistics, a large multi-national logistics conglomerate, and later in 2021, Lineage began receiving more new mechanical refrigerators cars.

(Read more about Cryo-Trans and its cryogenic refrigerators cars)

First Union Rail (FURX)

(CRYX cars)

The FURX cryogenic cars sold to Cryo-Trans were from the FURX 690000–690109 series (110 cars) in 2009.

In 2011, "Most of the FURX cars (690000-690108) are still in existence. The XTRX cryogenic cars (200-242, rebuilt from WP RBLs) are gone, though." (Carl Shaver, January 2011)

Upon acquisition, these cars were integrated into the Cryo-Trans roster and renumbered as CRYX 3400 and 3500 series, with some also being converted from cryogenic to mechanical refrigeration. Before their time with First Union Rail (FURX), 35 of these cars were part of the original 40-car Lamb-Weston/ConAgra CAGX 9600 series.

(Photos of FURX 690000 series cars at RRPictureArchives.net)

General American "Arcticar" (GATX)

(almost identical to CRYX cars)

(Read more about the 1995 GATX vs. Cryo-Trans law suit at Justia Law; includes notes about the history of Cryo-Trans and the history of the cryogenic refrigerator car)

General American Transportation Corp. (GATC) operated a fleet of cryogenic cars built by Gunderson in 1991. The GARX cars were labeled as the "Arcticar" with GARX reporting marks. GATX leased some of its cars to McCain Frozen Foods and to Carnation, and both groups wear appropriate heralds. The cars operated with numbers GARX 68000-68109 (110 cars).

Scott Chatfield wrote in March 1994, "The original series is GARX 68000-68030; the McCains and Carnations are part of the second order, GARX 68031-68080. Not all cars from this second order are subleased, though. The Carnation heralds were applied after the cars had been in service for several months, and it's obvious where the car-side was cleaned to add the red herald."

The original General American cryogenic cars following the Gunderson/Cryo-Trans pattern were numbered as GARX 68000-68109 (110 cars). These cars were specifically built by Gunderson between 1990 and 1992 using the "Arcticar" design.

GATX (General American) operated these under the GARX reporting mark. They were "Hi-Cube" cars, measuring 70 feet to 72 feet in length, designed for high-density frozen food loads.

(Photos of GARX 68000 series "Arcticar" cars at RRPictureArchives.net)

With GATC's exit from the cryogenic refrigerator car market following its loss in the patent infringement suit in 1995, the 109 remaining cars passed to First Union Rail (FURX) ownership, numbered as FURX 690000–690108 series.

GATC continues to operate modern insulated cars (RBL or XLI or XPI) in the GACX 79000 series, with photos dated in 2024 and 2025.

(Photos of GACX 79000 series modern insulated cars at RRPictureArchives.net)

(See also: "GATX Arcticar, Frozen Foods by Rail" by Mark W. Heinz in Mainline Modeler, September 1992)

(See also: "GATX Arcticar, A Second Order of Cryogenic Railcars" by Mark W. Heinz in Model Railroading, September 1993)

(Read the text of the two Mark Heinz articles noted above)

J. R. Simplot (JRSX)

(almost identical to CRYX cars)

J. R. Simplot (JRSX) 6000 series cars, built in 1990, look like Arcticars. Simplot was the first buyer of Gunderson cryogenic reefers, and had the second biggest fleet, 101 cars numbered 6000-6050 and 6100-6149. The series is JRSX 6000-6050 (built 1988) and 6100-6149 (built 1990).

JRSX 6001-6050 (50 cars), built 1989. New-built 6550 cubic foot 68'6" cushioned cryogenic refrigerated plate F box cars, with 12'x11'5" plug doors. Built July 1989 by Gunderson (Portland).

"J. R. Simplot ~~ JRSX 6000 was built in 7-88 by Gunderson. Cubic capacity is 6550. These are cryogenic refrigerator cars. JRSX 6001-6050 were also built by Gunderson (e.g. JRSX 6037 built 1-89 and new 5-89). Apparently Simplot is doing additional installation or something on these cars at their Caldwell, Idaho shops (hence the reason for the difference in the "built" and "New" dates. They also appear to be rebuilding ex SSW/SP boxcars at this facilty as well. The earlier acquired series JRSX 5000-5057 now appear to have been a part of this program. [E.A Neubauer / C.W.Shaver / G.Lopez-Cepero]" (Freight Car Journal #32, October 1989)

"J. R. Simplot has acquired another fifty new hi-cube cryogenic (RC) refrigerator cars numbered 6100-6149. These are similar to the earlier 6000-series cars, but have a slightly different livery. The new 6100-series cars have gray excess-height areas on the ends instead of white. These were built in 8-90 by Gunderson (additional dates probable). [C.W. Shaver]" (Frewight Car Journal #38, April 1991)

"The newer JRSX cars, built as reefers, series 6000-6050 and 6100-6149, are still mostly in service, minus a few retirees; but the older 5000-series cars, rebuilt from SSW box cars, have been retired due to the age of the original equipment." (Carl Shaver, January 2011)

JRSX 7000-7249 (250 cars), built in 2020 by Trinity, are R660 RP refrigerator cars with 7711 cu. ft. and 72'-3" IL, and are very similar (if not identical) to the Greenbrier-Gunderson cars built for CRYX and LINX.

October 3, 2000
From the Pasco, Washington, Tri-City Herald, October 3, 2000.

The J.R. Simplot Co. can now officially add Othello to its list of 24 processing plants around the world. The plants are in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia and China.

Simplot signed an agreement in early August to purchase Nestle USA Inc.'s potato processing business, including three Northwest plants in Othello, Moses Lake and Nampa, Idaho.

The Federal Trade Commission approved the deal late last week, and Simplot took over operations Monday.

The addition of the Nestle plants, which produce french fries and other frozen potato products, increases Simplot's processing output by 50 percent. The company has 12,000 employees and annual revenues of $2.7 billion.

Nestle decided to pull out of the potato processing business after determining growth in other food and beverage sectors would be more profitable.

The acquisition puts the Boise-based company on par with McCain Foods and Lamb-Weston Inc., two of the world's largest potato powers. Simplot is No. 2 domestically, behind Lamb-Weston, and No. 3 worldwide, following McCain and Lamb-Weston.

McCain and Lamb-Weston are expanding on the East Coast. McCain recently announced plans to build a $100 million processing plant in Easton, Maine, while Lamb-Weston signed an option with the Loring Development Co., also in Maine, to build a $70 million processing plant at the former Loring Air Force Base.

From Mainline Modeler, January 2004.

In the summer of 1987, Simplot look the lead in the development of these cryogenic cars. The first generation would begin with the purchase of 58 RBL cars from the Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt railroads. Once these 5,360 cubic foot capacity cars were delivered by the Union Pacific to the Simplot car repair facility in Caldwell, Idaho, they were modified into Simplot's 5000 series. Plate C type. Modification included new framing to the bulkheads and floors. Bunker brackets were then welded to the bunker support stringers. Next 4,000 pounds of polyurethane foam was poured into cells of the floor, bulkheads, and ceiling. The doors were removed to attach the plug and insulation. The rest of the plumbing and pipe fitting was then completed. The final stage consisted of adding the fiberglass wall panels, an aluminum T-floor and stainless steel plate to the deck, along with the carbon dioxide manifold. The car was then sent to the paint shop for sandblasting, painting, and stencilling.

The second generation of cars in 1989, was a group of 51 cars of 6,550 cubic foot capacity from Gunderson of Portland, Oregon. These series 6000 ears are Plate F, which are larger than the first generation type. Gunderson built the basic carbody including underframe and running gear, then they were sent to Simplot's rail facility to be outfitted. As with the first run, retrofitting these ears with pretty much the same, except they lacked doors which had to be installed.

[photo caption] The Simplot car repair facility in Caldwell maintains a total fleet of 159 CO2 cars. Most any repair can be handled at the facility with its six fulltime employees.

In August and September 1990, Simplot purchased from Gunderson another 50 cars of the same type, which became Simplot's 6100 series. What made these cars different from the 6000 series were the installation and the piping of CO2 under the flooring, besides the standard piping that is run along the ceiling. The second generation has a special T-flooring that when installed had the exposed rows of Ts facing up forming the floor, with the flat bottom section of the piece attached to the frame. This third generation car took the same type of flooring, except it was inverted. The T's attached faced down into the frame, while the deck is completely flat. With some new piping to reach under the flooring, CO can now be pumped under the floor as well, cooling the car faster. At present, there are no plans to build additional CO2 cars. At the Caldwell shop they have six employees to maintain their fleet of railcars. Work can range from repairing brakes, bolsters, trucks and running gear, to carpentry work for repairing the interior bulkheads. Any major work is contracted out.

Simplot developed the frozen french fry in the late 40s, and today is one of the world's largest producers of french fries, supplying many national and regional restaurant chains. Besides french fries, Simplot is a leading supplier of frozen vegetables and fruits under the Simplot Classic label and numerous private labels.

The cars transport frozen potato products from Simplot plants at Hermiston, Oregon and Aberdeen, Caldwell and Heyburn, Idaho. Major points of distribution are Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida. The 5000 series cars are used mainly for shorter runs because of their smaller capacity and twelve day maximum travel time that the CO2 is able to handle. The 6000 and 6100 series cars are used for all the longer runs with their larger capacity and fifteen day maximum travel time.

Photos show that by 2012-2014, all JRSX cryogenic cars have been rebuilt as mechanical refrigeration cars.

(Photos of JRSX 6000 series cars at RRPictureArchives.net)

(Photos of JRSX 6100 series cars at RRPictureArchives.net)

Lamb-Weston (CAGX)

(CRYX cars)

Lamb-Weston/ConAgra CAGX 9600 series, built in 1996. The lease ended in 2008; sold to First Union Rail (FURX), then to Cryo-Trans (CRYX) in 2009.

CAGX 9601-9670 (70 cars), built 1996. 70 new-built 6854 cubic-foot cryogenic refrigerator cars. Built March to May, and August-September 1996 "East (New Castle). Finished at RCS-0 3=4/96."

The Lamb-Weston cars did not have their own reporting mark. Lamb-Weston was a subsidiary of ConAgra, and the Lamb-Weston cars were operated under the ConAgra CAGX reporting mark.

(Prior to the cryogenic era that started in the late 1980s, Lamb-Weston shipped its products in cars leased from the R.E.M.X. Corporation (REMX). These were former SPFE mechanical refrigeration cars.)

"On November 26, [1986] UP and Lamb-Weston Inc. of Portland, Ore., signed a $100 million, lO-year contract for the shipment of frozen potato products from Washington, Idaho and Oregon to Lamb-Weston's markets in the midwestern, southern and eastern parts of the country. The contract, which coincides with a major expansion of Lamb-Weston's plant at American Falls, Idaho, will provide rail transportation for these perishable shipments destined primarily for restaurant and commercial food service operations. The potatoes will be shipped in UPFE mechanical refrigerator cars and in a special fleet of 151 refrigerated boxcars that were designed by Cryo-Trans Co. Lamb-Weston will lease the cars, which feature a carbon dioxide cooling system rather than the standard mechanical refrigeration." (Pacific News, February 1987)

In December 1986, carbon dioxide CO2 cars were specified in a contract between Lamb-Weston and Union Pacific. "$100 million rail pact signed. -- Lamb-Weston Inc., the Tigard-based Pacific Northwest food-processing company, and Union Pacific Railroad have signed a $100 million, 10-year shipping contract. The contract covers shipment of Lamb-Weston frozen foods from Oregon, Washington and Idaho plants to markets in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast. Most of the shipments will be frozen potatoes to restaurants and commercial food-service operations. The shipping includes the use of 151 refrigerated cars using a carbon-dioxide cooling system instead of mechanical refrigeration, according to the announcement from the railroad's Omaha office. Ralph P. Hill, Lamb-Weston vice president in charge of distribution, declined to comment on the announcement Monday for what he said were competitive reasons. (The Oregonian, December 2, 1986)

"Related to the beer cars is the small fleet of Lamb-Weston cryogenic reefers (XTRX 200-242). These were likely rebuilt from early beer cars by the Union Pacific (formerly Missouri Pacific) Palestine, Texas, shops. Unlike any of the Coors beer cars, these cars have flat roofs, and the odd combination of 16-rib sides with 12-foot plug doors. These cars haul frozen french fries from Idaho. Cryogenic means the car uses dry ice for the coolant rather than a mechanical refrigeration unit, thus, no moving parts. The principle is the same as the better known "Cryo-Trans" cars rebuilt from Pullman-Standard cars." (Scott Chatfield, Railroad Model Journal, January 1993)

Concerning the Lamb-Weston cars: "Several years ago they performed thermal imaging of all of the cars and found most of them were poorly insulated. They sold them and the new owners re-insulated the cars and applied mechanical units." (anonymous on internet)

From STB Recordation 21115A.

CAGX 9601-9628, CAGX 9630, CAGX 9631, CAGX 9633-9642 (excluding CAGX 9629, 9632)

Cryo-Trans design licensed to Lamb-Weston on April 4, 1990.

Forty (40) New 110 Ton Cryogenic Box Cars manufactured by General American Transportation Corporation.

Purchase agreement, GATC to Lamb-Weston, dated December 12, 1995.

Bill of sale, GATC to Lamb-Weston, dated July 31, 1996.

Financed by Pitney-Bowes; lease start date: July 30, 1996; lease end date: July 30, 2008; original cost $5,080,000.

(Reported build date of 1991 is not shown.)

(Photos of Lamb-Weston/ConAgra CAGX 9600 series cars at RRPictureArchives.net)

(Read more about Lamb-Weston)

McCain Foods

(CRYX cars)

April 1, 1988
From the Pasco, Washington, Tri-City Herald, April 6, 1988.

The Chef Reddy french fry plants in Othello and South Dakota had been sold to McCain Foods of Canada, the world's largest potato processor. The sale, completed Friday [April 1, 1988], was reportedly for $70 million. McCain Foods, owned by brothers Harrison and Wallace McCain and headquartered in Florenceville, New Brunswick, operated plants in eight countries and was considered the world's largest potato processor.

The Chef Reddy plant in Othello had opened in 1959. Combined, the two plants employed about 350. The two Chef Reddy plants annually processed about 300 million pounds of french fries, with annual sales of about $70 million.

McCain began operations in Canada in 1957 and had facilities in England, Holland, West Germany, Belgium, France, Spain and Australia. McCain also owned two potato processing plants in northern Maine and handled 90 percent of the total potato processing in that state.

McCain president Wallace McCain wrote that with the acquisition of the Chef Reddy plants, McCain had doubled its U.S. production of frozen french fries. The acquisition gave McCain a major production position in the prime potato industry in the Pacific Northwest and also in the upper Northwest. McCain said his firm also bought the Chef Reddy trademark as part of the agreement.

McCain praised the 55-year-old Taggares, who parlayed an interest in farming and 1,000 barren acres into an operation that's made him one of the state's richest men, as "one of the outstanding potato men in North America."

McCain Foods also owned several pizza and frozen pie manufacturing plants and was the biggest importer of Brazilian orange juice in the U.S.

Tropicana (TPIX)

Tropicana TPIX 3000-3377, built in 2000-2006 by Millenium Rail in Altoona, Pennsylvania, are R670 RPL insulated boxcars with 5911 cu. ft. and 64'-4" IL, and are very similar to the Greenbrier-Gunderson cars built for CRYX and LINX. While similar, they are not the same design.

Union Pacific (ARMN)

Trinity-design Refrigerator Cars

ARMN 110000-111499 (1500 cars), built in 2003-2005 by Trinity, are R660 RP refrigerator cars with 6990 cu. ft. and 64'-2" IL, and are very similar (if not identical) to the Greenbrier-Gunderson cars built for CRYX and LINX.

ARMN 112000-112499 (500 cars), built in 2019 by Trinity, are R660 RP refrigerator cars with 6990 cu. ft. and 64'-2" IL, and are very similar (if not identical) to the Greenbrier-Gunderson cars built for CRYX and LINX.

Greenbrier-Gunderson-design Refrigerator Cars

ARMN 170000-170874 (875 cars), built in 2012-2016 by Greenbrier-Gunderson, are R660 RPL refrigerator cars with 7557 cu. ft. and 72'-2" IL, and appear to be identical to the cars built for CRYX and LINX.

Union Pacific (UPFE)

Trinity-design Refrigerator Cars

UPFE 22000-22049 (50 cars), built in 1998 by Trinity; new-built 72'0" IL composite-body mechanical refrigerator cars. UP Class R-100-21.

UPFE 23000-23199 (200 cars), built in 1998 by Trinity; new-built 7932 cubic-foot capacity composite-materials bodied mechanical refrigerator cars. UP class R-110-21.

Universal Frozen Foods (1985-1994)

(CRYX cars)

Some of the Cryo-Trans cryogenic refrigerator cars were shown as being leased to Universal Foods, and were used to ship the products of its Universal Frozen Foods division and subsidiary.

Universal Frozen Foods was a specialized subsidiary of the much larger Universal Foods Corporation, its parent company. While they were technically separate legal entities, they were part of the same corporate umbrella until the mid-1990s.

Universal Foods Corporation (founded in 1882 as Meadow Springs Distilling Co. and later known as Red Star Yeast) was a massive international food conglomerate.

Universal Frozen Foods was a division created in the mid-1980s. Universal Foods entered the frozen potato products market by acquiring Idaho Frozen Foods (1985) and Rogers Walla Walla (1986), then merging them into a single subsidiary, Universal Frozen Foods.

(This matches the beginning of shipping frozen potato products by CO2 cryogenic refrigerator cars in 1985-1987.)

The Frozen Foods division was famous for its "curly fries" and helically shaped frozen potato products, primarily serving the food service and retail markets.

In 1994 Universal Foods decided to leave the commodity-heavy frozen food business to focus on flavors, colors, and yeast.

In June 1994, Universal Foods sold its Universal Frozen Foods division to ConAgra for approximately $190 million. ConAgra integrated it into its Lamb-Weston potato business.

In August 1994, Lamb-Weston, a subsidiary of ConAgra, purchased the assets of Universal Frozen Foods in Pasco and Hermiston, Oregon, and Twin Falls, Idaho. (Bellingham Herald, January 6, 1995)

Following the divestment of its frozen and commodity businesses, the parent company, Universal Foods Corporation, changed its name to Sensient Technologies Corporation in 2000, which still operates today as a major global flavor and color manufacturer.

Photos

Fallen Flags.com -- George Elwood's Fallen Flags website (scroll down to alphabetic list).

RailCarPhotos.com -- Search on reporting marks.

RRPictureArchives.net (list of reporting marks) -- A listing and links to all railcars (search by reporting mark). (Possible delayed loading due to security issues.)

Northwest Rail Pics CRYX -- Photos of a few CRYX cars (last updated in May 1999)

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