So to actually insert RR content on here:
One trend I noticed the last several years, have been the removal of “corn syrup” labeling on corn syrup tanks. They’ve been gradually getting painted out, and new tanks usually lack the lettering.
I say usually, because I saw a fresh repaint of a TILX corn syrup tank, and even though it had “corn syrup only” lettering painted on at the paint shop, it was covered up with white vinyl on both sides.
Any thoughts, conspiracies, or even insults?
It might be for security reasons. Given how popular a certain backwoods homemade distilled beverage is starting to become. Just think about it all that sugar that could be converted into liquor.
Never really heard of corn syrup tanks being broken into.
Not like they aren’t a very distinct type of tank car.
But could be.
I’ve noticed that I don’t see as many tank cars stenciled for their assigned loads like I once did. Even for hazmat tanks, which can still be identified by placards.
Some exceptions are tank cars in tallow service. Those still seem to be lettered, sometimes by hand with a paint marker, for edible and inedible tallow.
I can’t imagine breaking into a car of corn syrup happens very much.
Jeff
Wasn’t proper labeling of tanks a big ntsb thing after the wreck in Ohio? Or was that the placards? I remember something about markings being unreadable in a fire that they took issue with.
They label the carbon dioxide cars, but people still call them in for leaking.
There’s 2 issues with food grade tank cars and trailers in service. One is cross contamination the other is keeping the product in that tank safe and secure. Especially when you’re dealing with a large amount over 5k gallons. The liability issue of someone if someone wanted to harm say Coca-Cola or PepsiCo by contamination of a tank of corn syrup. Or if you’re a baked goods manufacturer that is nut free and someone contaminated your tanker of vegetable oil with peanut oil you’re possibly could kill someone with a severe nut allergy. Don’t laugh at that last one I hauled food grade level tanker and if you’re going into a facility that is nut free for allergy purposes they literally will search your truck for anything nut related. They take it that seriously.
Yeah but painting over the 3” corn syrup” label on a shortie tank car with a giant corn producer logo on it seems a little bit of a theatrical action.
CO2 is heavier than air and can accumulate in low lying areas and confined areas, and can cause asphyxiation.
Co2 cars have regulating valves with wording: “Regulating valve - venting normal”
That’s the issue. People see them venting and panic. It’s not a huge deal, but it can cause minor delays. Glad people are paying attention at least, and they do have good intentions. Maybe the wording needs to be more clear?
Well, I’ll be. I did not know that.
When I was working extra operator positions on the B&O Pittsburgh Division in 1967 there were routine shipments of Liquid Oxygen in Linde cryogenic ‘box’ cars (box car form with insulation surrounding the cryogenic tank holding the product). The cars were routinely venting when passing my locations.
With regard to corn syrup, I recall one night at the Locust Point TBS Terminal (CSX’s Through Bulk Service) where the TBS Terminal receives car loads of product and then distribute truck loads of the product to the local area customers.
Report was received that the drain on a car load of corn syrup was obstructed and would not flow. Proper personnel were notified and opened the manhole cover and discovered a human body blocking the drain - local police were called and the body was removed from the car - since the ambient temperature that night was near ZERO - when the corn syrup coated body came in contact with the air it froze in very short order. I was never able to find any further information on the happening - like who the person was, where they were from, the proximate cause and manner of death.
I have seen new cars with the commodity name covered over, probably because they are empty and thus don’t even have any residue inside.
There was a case of someone opening the valve on a carload of molasses which made quite a mess on the ground.
Mark Vinski
Are cars still being stenciled - ‘Return to XY Location’ with no mention of commodity.
For those keeping score. Tank cars in most cases operate on ‘Trip Leases’ between the car owner (GATX, NATX, UTLX etc.) and the shipper. Demurrage rules that apply to railroad owned cars, do not apply to private owner cars, thus it is not unusual to see individual private owner cars stay on a customers track for an extended period of time (Whatever is paid for the excessive time the car is held is between the customer and the shipper who is the Lessee of the car and is paying the Lessor for every day the car is in the Shippers lease account).
Rail cars cost significant $um$ to purchase and they are purchased so that the car owner will derive more revenue from the car’s use than it expends on the purchase and maintenance of the car. All car owner expect to derive revenue from load car hauling commodities and they also want to hold accountable a party that prevents the car from accruing repeated loaded trips by taking too long to unload the car.
Not corn syrup, but I’m sharing a news clip of when a molasses car exploded. Perhaps having clear labels on tank cars might help first responders identify specific hazards more quickly, not that there are not other means to do that.
Do any crews look for good XM boxcars for ind.spots.
No. At most you may get something like “leased to adm inc” or something,
Sometimes you could find the “return to xyz” on very old cars, under layers of paint, or under the shop tag boards of all places.