I have used a couple for questions in"Google" but cannot get an answer for the above question. I model the period 1949 to 1975 so it is quite likely that they started in this time frame. Some-one who has (or is) worked in the industry could possibly have the answer.
Thanks in advance
Rob
I don’t know the when they started, but do know that tank cars had holders for them in the 1950’s. They were included in Athearn tank car kits.
Not an answer to your question about placards but I did find this:
Timeline:
1866 - A nitroglycerin explosion in San Francisco which killed 14 people, along with similar incidents of explosions elsewhere, led to the passage of a law that forbade the shipment of explosives on passenger vessels.
1871 - Legislation is passed by Congress to limit the amount of hazardous materials transported on ships.
1903 - On November 3rd, a disastrous freight car explosion in Ohio brought attention to the need for greater regulation of hazardous material shipments.
1909 - Legislation expanded to include ground transportation of hazardous goods.
1917 - The Halifax Explosion, known as the largest man-made accidental explosion in history, occurs when a fully loaded French cargo ship carrying war explosives collides with another vessel in Nova Scotia, Canada. Approximately 2,000 people were killed, with an estimated 9,000 injured.
1958 - Legislation passed to regulate hazardous material shipments via air.
Found a couple photos of restored tank cars in museums with placard holders. one car from the 1920’s the other from the 1930’s, but don’t know if the placards holders are original or added at a later time.
Somwhere I have seen more info, but do not remember if it was on the net or in print. It showed placards from different time periods.
Plackards were used in the 40s and 50s, but not like the modern ones with the material numbers. They would say Flamable, Combustible, Corrosive, Dangerous, and similar words.
April 1935 Model Railroader has a drawing of a tank car with a placard holder.
Yep, they go way back, but have changed periodically.
I have a set of Microscale 87-975, Transition Era Freight Car Placards, 1945-1970. Listed as in stock: http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=87-975
Microscale’s current offering includes a set that’s listed as 1984+: http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=87-840
A good reference to current markings: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Hazardous_Materials_Markings_Labeling_and_Placarding_Guide.pdf
This is copied and paste from Wikipedia:
The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA), enacted in 1975, is the principal federal law in the United States regulating the transportation of hazardous materials. Its purpose is to "protect against the risks to life, property, and the environment that are inherent in the transportation of hazardous material in intrastate, interstate, and for
Rob,
Check out the 2015 NMRA Convention clinics here:
http://nmra2015.sbcrailway.ca/clinic-presentations
Under Deis, Paul you should find all you need.
Andrew
Tank cars wasn’t the only type of car that could have a placard…Boxcars hauling hazmat would have placards on the doors.
Linde use tank boxcars.
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/linde-can-air-products-company-box-car-603
When I first hired out in 1967, the placards were referred to as “Dangerous” placards, and were generic markings such as Flammable, Dangerous, Oxidizer, Explosive, etc. In the mid 1970s, the regulations were changed to include an identifier code to describe the commodity. As Brakie noted, not only tank cars required placards, box cars and Piggyback trailers required them when hauling commodities requiring a placard.
One of the Road Locals I worked servesd a Naval Weapons Station. We used to deliver and pull many a Railbox, with Explosives placards from there.
Linde’s enclosed tank cars were frequently placarded Oxidizer.
Empty placards were on the reverse side of the loaded placard.
Thanks to all who responded. “The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA), enacted in 1975, is the principal federal law in the United States regulating” seems to say it all, ie a date for the current type to start. Rob
While the modern placards started in 1975, there were placards dating back to the early 1900s for all manner of things. For example: during your stated modeling time period there where 3 different explosive warning labels. See the handout pdf next to the clinic I linked.
Here is an example from 1978.