A.C. Gilbert Steel, Riveted (Ice) Refrigerator Cars for 1958

Prototype Info

Car Type:

steel, riveted (ice)

Length:

40'

Car Owner:

American Refrigerator Transit Co (ART)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24413

Gauge:

AF

Year Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24413

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Product Notes:

view page

Online Article:

Has a photo

Notes:

This car was produced through 1960 in two variations:
1) "Close & Lock..." lettering and type 3 frame.
2) "Close And Lock..." lettering and type 2 frame.

This is an example of the #2 variation.

Prototype Info

Car Type:

steel, riveted (ice)

Year/Era:

1955

Length:

40'

Volume:

2273cuft

Car Owner:

Canadian National Railway (CN)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24419

Gauge:

AF

Year Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24419

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Product Notes:

view page

Online Article:

Has a photo

Notes:

This car was produced through 1959 in one variation. It was typically sold in the company's Kleer-Pak carton.

Original print.

Prototype Info

Car Type:

steel, riveted (ice)

Length:

40'

Car Owner:

Illinois Central (IC)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24403

Gauge:

AF

Year Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24403

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Product Notes:

view page

Online Article:

Has a photo

Notes:

This car was produced through 1959 in two variations:
1) orange plastic shell (common).
2) 1958 only, painted a slightly darker orange; it was offered as part of the uncataloged #20151 Simmons Special train set, with less than 500 produced, with each set containing two of these cars, there are less that 1,000 known to exist.

Variation #1 is in the foreground, and #2 is in the back.

Prototype Info

Car Type:

steel, riveted (ice)

Year/Era:

1940

Length:

40'

Car Owner:

North Western Refrigerator Line (NWX)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24416

Gauge:

AF

Year Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24416

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Product Notes:

view page

Online Article:

Has a photo

Notes:

Only one variation of this car was produced, and it was available individually and as part of a set.

Prototype Info

Car Type:

steel, riveted (ice)

Length:

40'

Car Owner:

Northern Pacific (NP)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24409

Gauge:

AF

Year Introduced:

1958

Road Number(s):

24409

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Product Notes:

view page

Online Article:

Has a photo

Notes:

Only one variation of this car was produced, and it was available individually and as part of a set.

Prototype Info

Car Type:

steel, riveted (ice)

Length:

40'

Car Owner:

Simmons

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24420

Gauge:

AF

Year Introduced:

1958

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Product Notes:

view page

Online Article:

Has a photo

Notes:

This reefer was not sold separately, but was part of the 20161 Simmons Display Set that contained two of these cars. It was offered as a store premium by a small regional group furniture stores in Michigan only. The Michigan store wanted to further promote the national "Simmons Carload Bargains Sale" that was featured in Life magazine on June 9, 1958. When a second furniture store saw what was happening they wanted to get in on the action. They went to Gilbert to have them make a few sets for them but the contract between the Michigan store and Gilbert would not allow it. Gilbert offered the second store the uncataloged 20151 Simmons Special Set that contained two 24403 painted Illinois Central reefers with a sticker like the logo on the side of the 24420 that could be placed on the side allowing them to use the 20151 set to promote the sale. To date none of the stickers have been found and the painted 24403 IC reefers are as rare as the 24420 Simmons reefers. Some say that there was less than 500 of each set ever made but the exact number is unknown.