Pacific Fruit Express Company records, 1906 - 1980s

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Summary

Abstract:
Corporate records for the Pacific Fruit Express.
Extent:
58 Linear Feet 58 boxes + 5 file drawers
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Pacific Fruit Express Company Records, MS 49, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A preliminary finding aid has been prepared. The finding aid will be expanded to include unprocessed material as the collection is processed.

Biographical / historical:

The Pacific Fruit Express Company (PFE) was incorporated in 1906 and began operations the following year. A joint project of the Edward H. Harriman-controlled Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, the PFE handled shipments of vegetables, fruit and other perishables primarily from western growing areas to markets in the northern and eastern states.

At its height, the company had a total of almost 41,000 ice refrigerator cars. To service these, the PFE operated a number of ice plants and docks, as well as car and repair shops throughout the west. After World War II, the number of cars owned by the company declined, although their size increased. Mechanical refrigerators began supplanting the older ice bunker cars. By 1972 the ice cars had been totally replaced. Joint ownership between Southern Pacific and Union Pacific ended in 1978, with the two railroads dividing the rolling stock and SP keeping the Pacific Fruit Express name.

Acquisition information:

Vouchers and ledgers from Stockton Vault; Brisbane corporate documents; San Francisco; Carl Milchen, 1991

Gift of Charles Gerton, 2004

Gift of Anthony W. Thompson, 2008

Arrangement:

MS 49 has been arranged in 15 series and 4 sub-series

1. Financial Records

2. Car Department Records

2.1 Miscellaneous records

2.2 Car service accounts

2.3 Record of equipment

2.4 Rolling stock record cards

3. Specifications, Bills of Materials and Drawing Indexes

4. Schedules

5. Mechanical and Engineering Department Records

6. Union Agreements

7. Subject files: Alphabetical

8. Subject files: By Corporate Name

9. Drawings

10. Facilities

11. Forms

12. Personnel Records

13. Oral Histories

14. Land Records

15. Albums

Physical location:
Statewide Museum Collection Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Southern Pacific Company

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff.

Terms of access:

Copyright has been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. Permission for publication must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Pacific Fruit Express Company Records, MS 49, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
111 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 323-8073
Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov
Website