Tank car Placard Question

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I was watching a freight train today which had a few GATX tank cars which had Flammable placards displayed which got me to wondering if they only display the placard on loaded tank cars or always if the car were empty but may have fumes present. I believe only on loaded cars…Am I right?

2

Yes, only on loaded cars.

3

Thanks for the quick reply

4

They display a flammable liquid or gas placard (they are different placards) on loads and the placard is turned over and an empty residue placard is applied on empty cars.

So empties are placarded, just not that exact placard.

5

At one time there were residue empty placards, but now the placard used is the same for loaded or empty cars.

Jeff

6

Not true. Even when empty, the tank car will have traces of the material. The car would have to be fully cleaned, or assigned to a non-dangerous commodity that doesn’t require placards.

7

Correct. If a tank car has no placard it either a non hazardous car or it has been PURGED completely. Unloading a car is not purging or cleaning the car.

Randy

8

I have not seen a residue placard in years. Any tank car or hopper containing just residue will be placarded the same as it was when loaded. The same is true for the flatcars carrying the calcium carbide containers.