Chapter 29

We can make empty boxcars,or perhaps even refrigerator cars available to you when the time comes,”Watson said.“What’s left of our nation has a dire need for fruits and vegetables.”

“It will have to be refrigerator cars,”Jake said.

All eyes turned to him.

“Because?”Josh said.

“During the first half of the twentieth century,watermelons and other perishables were shipped in ventilated boxcars,”Jake said.“Those cars had double doors.One ofthem was a solid door,and the other door was a heavily screened door that allowed air to circulate.Unfortunately,by the early sixties,most perishables had begun to be moved by truck,and the ventilated boxcars fell into disuse.Today’s boxcars are steel,and would get way too hot inside for produce in this kind of weather.”

“I forgot that you were a train buff,”Josh said.

“He’s right,”Don said.“It was before my time,but I remember my dad talking aboutthose ventilated cars.They were even called watermelon cars.”