the bunkers were called "convertible bunkers", in that they were
collapsible, for storage, when not needed,
the blocks were slid onto existing ice blocks already preloaded
inside the car, and you loaded these with
long handles, with two prongs at the end, one for pushing and one for
holding back the block, can't
remember the name of the pole, we had a cannery about a mile down the
tracks, from where i lived, and
we would always go down there, to scavenge scraps of ice, in the
summer time, usually the first row of blocks
were loaded in through the main door, before loading and any
additional ice was loaded through the hatches
after the loading was completed, the bunkers were used only for
crushed and chunk ice, not blocks, they
weren't that strong
mel perry
On Mar 14, 2013, at 3:40 PM, [email protected] wrote:
Bill, I have wondered the same thing about the blocks of ice being
dropped into a bunker.
In my younger days I was an active ice-carver on the side. The
blocks of ice were 300 pounds, not 200, though blocks that were
scored (cut with saw marks) could easily be broken into smaller
blocks.
I am not aware that I have ever seen what these reefer bunkers were
like. But in my imagination I have always thought they would not
be anything like that deep, unless the ice would be broken into
much smaller chunks before falling.
I bet some of the guys on this list can speak to this issue with
some authority.
- Earl Henry, Nashville
In a message dated 3/14/2013 5:31:39 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
I have wondered about the sliding of a 200+ pound block of ice into
the bunker with possibly an 8 foot drop. What stops it from going
right through the floor to the ground? (:->) That has to be 1
strong floor to continually take that abuse.
Thank You,
Bill Lane
