Freight Fridays Feature Fix

 Todays Freight Fridays Feature Fix is brought to by the letters, U-P-F-E.  The letters stand for, Union Pacific Fruit Express which was a mechanical refrigerated boxcars (reefers) owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.  This car was equipped with a mechanical apparatus for furnishing protection against heat and/or cold. The apparatus was operated by diesel power rather than from the car axle.  The diesel fuel stain on the tank that hung below the car was a signature look for these cars.  These cars were either scrapped or painted and converted to what is now the Union Pacifics, ARMN's.

It was around 2005 that the Union Pacific company started to convert and scrap these style of reefers.  The purpose was to replace the mechanical apparatus to a more high-tech/fuel efficient, modern cooling equipment.  Reefers are hard sought out by graffiti writers and the UPFE's were loved but the fact the UP railroad company painted the converted cars to white makes them more desirable.  The ARMN identification letters come from the former American Refrigerator Transit Company that the UP took over in the 70's and is now a subsidiary of them.

The Freight Fridays Feature Fix tributes are pieces done by MECA and COLT45.  The MECA freight (above) was a cleanly done silver simple style piece dissed by an unknown assailant.  The COLT45 piece is pretty fresh but being it was inbetween the lines made the photo difficult to get but it's a perspective any freight graffiti writer understands.  The last image is a before and after of the UPFE's.  As dope as the white ARMN's are, there will always be a special place for the UPFE's.

Enjoy your Freight Fridays Feature Fix and stay safe!