Reefer icing operations

[NW Mailing List]

The N&W Annual reports mention construction/updates to some of the icing plants, but do not list all of the ones previously mentioned. There is no mention in them on when they were retired.

1911: At West Roanoke, Va., and Portsmouth, Ohio, plants for icing refrigerator cars were constructed,

1912: ... were constructed, also a plant for icing refrigerator cars at Bluefield, W. Va.

1919: A re-icing station was erected at Crewe, Va.

1920: re-icing station was erected at Bristol, Va.,

1923: Ice crushing plants were installed in re-icing stations at Crewe, Va., and Bluefield, W. Va.

1925: the present yard at Portsmouth, Ohio, is being enlarged, with provision for additional pull-in tracks, shop facilities, icing station, storehouses, office building, coaling station, 115-foot turntable, etc. [...] Enlarged and improved icing stations, including platforms and equipment, were provided at West Roanoke, Va., and Clare, Ohio.

1927: At Portsmouth, Ohio, ... A large re-icing station for refrigerating cars was also completed.

Joe Shaw