In 1948 the A&W placed ten cars in service, A&W 3000-3009.  They were used in condensed milk and cherry service but were badly abused while off-line and by the fall of 1949 only three cars (A&W 3000, 3003, 3004) were still on the roster.  By 1953 only A&W 3004 remained and it spent most of its time at the Sturgeon Bay house track.

These cars were ex Merchants Despatch Transportation (MDT) wood reefers built in the 1920s.  Spotting features unique to these cars include the shape of the tabs on the side sills by the truck bolsters, the overall look of the end sill, the reinforced ends with channel stock (applied in the 1930's or 1940's), steel straps with bolts running around the ends onto the sides and the 41'-5" outside length.