This is a Fruit Growers and Western Fruit Express 1921, 1927, 1940 Design with 40’ Wood Reefers. 

 

Customers complained of being overcharged by Armour and Company’s car line.  In 1919 a forced sale of Armour Refrigerator Line occurred and Fruit Growers Express was formed.   Pennsy, Southern, ACL and B& O owned the new company.  N&W, C & EI, and New Haven soon joined and 19 roads were eventually customers/owners. 

 

This line was the main carrier of Florida’s vegetables and fruits.  Peaches and melons from South Carolina and Georgia and imported tropical fruits and bananas were also transported.

 

A new car was built in 1922 with wood ice hatches and 4’ x 6’ doors.  The height was increased in 1927.  The cars received level fascia and a metal roof in the thirties.  The fleet grew further in the forties when the height was changed to 12’7”.

 

These higher cars had red roofs and ends and reefer yellow sides.  “Ventilator and Refrigerator” were lettered on the fruit growers cars and the Great Northern herald on the right side of the car was put on the WFE cars. 

 

The hard work and dedication of the workers ensured that fruit which was shipped throughout the nation was in clean cars and iced properly.  Today we still enjoy the benefits of a national fruit exchange because of  of those who knew it could be done.