Ye olde Holland reefer car

Any historical questions can be posted here. Answers would certainly help as well :)
GP30M4216
Saver of all History
Posts: 4801
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:35 pm
Location: Feel the Zeel, MI
Contact:

Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by GP30M4216 »

I didn't realize the place I was ordering a pizza from tonight was located immediately beside a vintage 40' refrigerator car stashed on an old spur track off the Ottawa Beach spur in Beechwood/Holland tonight! I had seen this car before in passing but driving thru the parking lot piqued my interest. Does anyone know what the heritage is of this elderly veteran of the steam era? I wonder how many decades it's been there?
Attachments
Holland Reefer.jpg

wagnew0923
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 416
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:37 am

Re: Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by wagnew0923 »

Is it on Tracks or just sitting in a field?

User avatar
James Sofonia
Grand Traverse Dinner Train 1996
Posts: 1701
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:56 pm
Location: Traverse City, Michigan

Re: Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by James Sofonia »

Here is as close as I could get to your car with Street View. From the overhead view you can see where the grade led up to the car, but no tracks visable. Maybe still a short section under it.

Image

User avatar
~Z~
Sofa King Admin
Posts: 12909
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:14 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Contact:

Re: Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by ~Z~ »

Shot of mine from 2006:
Image
Webmaster
Railroad photos on Railroadfan.com

User avatar
SD80MAC
Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
Posts: 10431
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
Location: Grand Rapids

Re: Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by SD80MAC »

It's sitting on what remains of an old spur off the Ottawa Beach branch.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Image

DLM
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:33 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by DLM »

The spur turned south and crossed both Douglas and Howard Streets to the Vac_A-Tac building on Lake Macatawa. Later Heinz took over the building. I can remember the spur being in place in the early 70's. But I never saw a train switching it. I do recall trains switching Parke Davis along with Chris Craft, Chemtron, and Taylor Warehouse.

User avatar
Doktor No
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1076
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2015 4:49 pm
Location: Rockford, Michigan

Re: Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by Doktor No »

DLM you must be as old as I am....I remember all of the above at one time or another.
Curb Your Enthusiasm.

DLM
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:33 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Ye olde Holland reefer car

Unread post by DLM »

Ya got me by a couple years Dok. I can also recall C&O working the businesses along Ottawa Ave in Holland on Sunday mornings. From Heinz south to the Texaco facility, they would work 5 businesses. There was a 3 track yard just before Heinz by the old sugar factory where they would get ready for the shove down along Ottawa Ave. Bohn Aluminum, Holland Ladder, an oil in drums warehouse, and 2 other places that escape my memory. And let's not forget the Penn Dixie cement plant that usually had 6 to 8 C&O or Detroit & Mackinaw cement hoppers at it.

Post Reply