Athearn (a model train manufacturer) is coming out with some models of 33,000+ gallon, pressure tankcars. Some of them are stenciled Hydrocarbon Liquid, N.O.S., but the placard is 1075. According to Athearn, their contact at a Class 1 railroad said that is acceptable. However the ERG lists only 3295 for Hydrocarbon Liquid, N.O.S. and does not list that designation under 1075. I have a question for those whose job (or previous job) dealt with placarding or shipping haz-mat. Is Athearn correct?
From what I read in 49 CFR 172.101, 49 CFR 172.302, 49 CFR 172.330, and 49 CFR 172.332 it looks like the information Athearn has is incorrect.
Isn’t 1075 LP Gas?
I’ve seen “Pyrolysis Gasoline” shipped in former pressure tank cars (guess it’s light enough for the higher capacity), but I don’t ever recall seeing one lettered the way you describe (I think the placard was 1203, same as ordinary gasoline). However, Athearn must have gotten a photograph somewhere, and thought they could “adapt” their model.
“N.O.S.” = Not Otherwise Specified - a general ‘catch-all’ classification ?
Yes and yes
Carl, we get many pressure tankcars placarded 3295 (as well as some placarded 1203). I do not think I have ever seen a commodity stencil on the 3295 tankcars, although I can tell where the former commodity stencil was painted over.
Indeed Athearn did say they got the idea from the photograph. I have seen other placarding/stencil errors: pressure tankcars placarded 1075 but stenciled Gasoline, tankcars placarded 1987 but stenciled ethyl ether, and a general service tankcar placarded 1075 (I hope that was a wrong placard).