3
3: This photo is obviously posed, with the workmen static
rather than active, but it clearly shows the two traditional
ice tools used throughout PFE territory: one's forged
steel with two prongs, called a “bi-dent,” probably by
analogy with “trident,” and the other is a wood-handled
tool for moving ice, having both a point and a hook,
called a “pickaroon.” The small movable bridge hooks
on the drop-down apron. Note the color of the hatch
plug. – PFE photo, Rob Evans collection.
Getting Real Column - 3
the topic, and the kinds of resources I have exploited, will clar-
ify how a similar approach could be taken for any era.
The Car Fleet
When PFE began in 1906, it purchased 6600 new refrigera-
tor cars. Immediately it became the largest single fleet in the
country of such cars under railroad control (Armour Car Lines
4: This is Pocatello, Idaho in January 1948. Pocatello had
an Ice Manufacturing Plant, and this photo illustrates
what a large PFE facility looked like. The 85-car island ice
deck extends almost to the vanishing point in the dis-
tance (in 1960 it would be extended to 105 carlengths).
It has typical PFE drop-down aprons and is roofed. At left
are PFE cleanout tracks and repair facilities. – PFE photo,
courtesy CSRM.
4
had the only larger fleet at that time). By 1910, PFE exceeded
Armour, becoming the largest reefer fleet of any kind, a distinc-
tion it maintained throughout the life of PFE. Until 1978 it was
a jointly-owned property of SP and UP. During the mid-20th
century, the PFE fleet hovered around 40,000 cars. Specifics of
various PFE car classes are included in the modeling section.
MRH-Sep 2013
