Post-2000 Refrigerator Cars -- The CRYX Cars

Unlike BNSF and UP, which built their post-2000 fleet in a few small batches, CRYX has continued to build cars. Information on the web is incomplete, but here's what I've ben able to come up with as a preliminary sketch of the fleet. Photos exist, including some I've taken, that are in number series that aren't listed below. I'm continuing to update my information, but this is what I have as of now.

CRYX series 1003-1132, from ATSF series 620300-620599 built by ATSF Shops, Job ___, class BX-132, ___-68. Rebuilt by CEECO in 1987 for CRYX.
CRYX series 1151-1199, from ATSF series 620300-620599 built by ATSF Shops, Job ___, class BX-132, ___-68. Rebuilt by CEECO in 1989 for CRYX.

CRYX 1100 was the original cryogenic reefer

CRYX series 1223-1272 was built by Gunderson, Lot 19225, Sep-90.
CRYX series 1273-1342 was built by Gunderson, Lot 19370, Apr-May 1991.

These two lots were originally CO2-based cars that were the prototype for the Walthers 1990s kits. These cars were reissued in ready-to-run in 2013. An MR review of the reissued cars is here. I don't have any of the Walthers cars lettered for CRYX, but I do have this one lettered for JRSX, which other than the reporting mark is identical to the CRYX cars:

The CO2 cars didn't last long in this form and were rebuit with mechanical units similar to those on ARMN and BNSF cars. The Walthers cars do not have the later mechanical detail, and it would be a fairly major job to add it to the Walthers kits.

The rebuilt carrs are in CRYX series 3000-3263, from CRYX series 1223-1272 and CRYX series 1273-1342. They were rebuilt starting in 2000 and renumbered to the 3000-series as shown below. They are the most common CRYX car types I see in California.

Here is a shot of CRYX 3063 from this rebuilt series:

CRYX series 3231-3263, renumbered in reverse order from SOO series 288000-288032, originally from CRYX series 2000-2149 built by Gunderson, Lot ___, Jun-Jul 1996. To SOO in 2003; to CRYX 3231-series in 2005. A photo of a SOO car can be found here. It is lettered like any CRYX car, but with SOO reporting marks.

Below is CRYX 3253 from this series:

CRYX series 4000-4099 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson), Job ___ Dec-02 to Apr-03. Here is a shot of CRYX 4099 from this series:

CRYX series 5000-5428 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson), Job ____, Jun-06 to Jan-07. These have 72' interior length with 7765 cu. ft. capacity, highest in the industry per Cryo-Trans press release. Equipped with GPS and remote operation and monitoring of the Carrier-supplied refrigeration units.

CRYX series 5500-5598 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson), Job __, Dec-09 to Mar-10.

CRYX series 5700-5799 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson), Job ____, Aug-Oct 2012.

CRYX series 5800-5849 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson plant), Job ____, Feb-13. Here is a shot of CRYX 5884, which is apparently from a later series not on the list I have here:

CRYX series 5900-5949 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson plant), Job ____, Feb-15

It appears that CRYX 8000 and higher are insulated box cars with no refrigeration equipment.

CRYX series 8001-8100 built by Greenbrier (Gunderson plant), Job ____, ___-16 to ___-17. Here is a shot of CRYX 8093 from this series:

CRYX series 8101-8200. Here is a shot of CRYX 8133 from this series:

Here is a shot of CRYX 8303 from a later series not on the list I have here:

For modeling, Microscale makes a set 87-1437 that covers most CRYX reefers. The Walthers cars can represent CRYX cars of the 1990s out of the box, but for rebuilt cars, it would be necessary to find a way to add the end details for the steps and fuel tank apparatus, as well as the Carrier-type refrigeration units on the more recent mechanical cars. The Walthers kits can be found on eBay at moderate prices, and they could potentially be used to kitbash later cars.