National Museum of Transportation near Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

URTX #37144

Union Refrigerator Transit Lines

— 1948 —

URTX #37144 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019

1. URTX #37144 Marker

Inscription. Built by General American Transportation Corporation, this car is a steel bodied reefer with ice bunkers at each end. These ice bunkers hold 10,400 lbs. of chunk ice or 11,500 lbs. of crushed ice. Ice stations were located every 100-150 miles along the railroads mainline to replace the melted ice. In the winter, charcoal heaters could be placed in the bunkers to keep the cargo from freezing. Fans are located in the floor at each end to circulate air and keep an even temperature throughout the car. The "X" in URTX indicates the car was privately owned while the Milwaukee Road herald show it was lased to that railroad. Number 37144 is 40' long & weighs 61,500 lbs. Typical cargo would be fresh fruit, vegetables or eggs. Donated in 1975 by the General American Transportation Corporation.

Erected by Museum of Transportation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1948.

Location. 38° 34.281′ N, 90° 27.786′ W.

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Marker is near Kirkwood, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in National Museum of Transportation. It can be reached from Barrett Station Road east of Old Dougherty Ferry Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3015 Barrett Station Road, Saint Louis MO 63122, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #1582 (here, next to this marker); Illinois Terminal #1575 (a few steps from this marker); New York Central & Hudson River #113 (a few steps from this marker); Burlington Northern #10032 (a few steps from this

URTX #37144 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019

2. URTX #37144 and Marker

marker); ACFX #26640 (a few steps from this marker); SL-SF #3000 (a few steps from this marker); MCHX #117 (a few steps from this marker); Joplin - Pittsburg #2003 (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 289 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.