Please sign in so that we can notify you about a reply
Zynda’s Brothers Brewing Company
36' Woodsided Reefer #1948
A very special limited-run project created exclusively for
Great Lakes Hobby, celebrating Detroit railroad history,
regional brewing heritage, and an unforgettable refrigerator car.
**CALL STORE TO ORDER**
We are proud to offer this exclusive Great Lakes Hobby special project: the Zynda’s Brothers 36’ Woodsided Reefer. This is more than another freight car for the shelf. It is a limited-run project created specifically for our store and our customers.
Decorated for Zynda Brewing Co. of Detroit, Michigan, this distinctive reefer combines a colorful brewery identity with detailed railroad markings, Detroit-area routing, and period-inspired refrigerator-car lettering.
Detroit History in Miniature
The Story Behind the
Zynda Name
Long before this name appeared on a refrigerator car, the Zynda family had established itself in Detroit's brewing industry. John Zynda founded the White Eagle Brewery in 1886, building a brewery that became closely associated with Detroit's Polish community. The brewery operated for decades through changing ownership and business names before becoming the Zynda Brewing Company in 1933.
The brewery's history is especially notable for what happened during Prohibition. As Michigan's brewing industry faced an uncertain future, the Zynda operation went to extraordinary lengths to keep its business alive. Family history recalls John Zynda constructing an underground passage between the bottling operation and a nearby garage, allowing beer to be moved discreetly while avoiding unwanted attention.
When Prohibition ended in 1933, the brewery returned to legal beer production under the Zynda Brewing Co. name. Its Detroit operation continued producing beer for the local market until the brewery closed in 1948.
Prototype-Inspired Details
The decoration was developed to capture the look and character of the prototype, down to the lettering, capacity data, ownership markings, and refrigerator-car hardware.
Light Weight: 65,800 lbs.
Load Limit: 70,000 lbs.
Ice Capacity: 4,000 lbs.
Built: 1-77
Rebuilt: 4-26
Permit: MICH-U-657
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Ownership & Routing
Owner / Lessor
A&K Millers Inc.
Lessee / Sub-lessor
Zynda’s Brewery
Sub-lessee
Designed to Stand Out
Gold sides, blue and gold graphics, red ends, cream lettering, and a black roof and underframe give this reefer a bold appearance that immediately separates it from the ordinary freight cars in a train.
More Than a Freight Car.
It is a piece of Great Lakes history brought to life in miniature — a Detroit brewery, a historic railroad, and a distinctive refrigerator car brought together in a special project created specifically for Great Lakes Hobby.