lettering for Illinois Central’s all-steel refrigerator cars w/short diamond - 1937 scheme

Two thirds of all bananas consumed in the US were supplied by the United Fruit Co and Standard Fruit & Steamship Line from Central America to the port of New Orleans. The Illinois Central Railroad was the prime mover of bananas and other perishable fruits from the ports of New Orleans all the way to Minnesota via Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska. In 1935, the Central Fruit Despatch division of the I.C. had 4,400 wood reefers in service, mostly in banana service. In October1937, the IC received 300 all steel ice reefers from GATC under O.O. 2782 as Series 50000-50299.

Notes on decal placement: the vertical aligned diamond and reporting marks are placed in two different locations: on the as-delivered scheme with the road name contained within the diamond, all were placed centered on the second vertical panel seam from the left end (IC-2a). When the cars had stage icing and circular fans installed, the vertical stack of lettering moved to the right and were centered on the
3rd seam over. (IC-2b)
.
Paint & Lettering: Body color was chrome yellow (IC spec 24-C) ; silver-gray roof and IC green lettering, herald and side sill striping. Underframe black
car cement.

Decal set designed and created at Protocraft Decals
Printed by Microscale Industries