Tank car placement Qs

[kasskaboose]

I read in Vol. 1 of the Kalmach book on industries that tank cars carrying flammable material weren’t right behind the locos. Here are my questions:

1 Was keeping these cars away from the locos required by law or just general practice?

2 What types of material was considered “flammable?”

3 Is it true that that box cars were used to separate the flammable cars from the locos?

TIA!

Lee

[dehusman]

1 Was keeping these cars away from the locos required by law or just general practice?

Depending on era, required by Federal law. Loaded placarded cars “generally” are required to be 6 cars from an engine or occupied car, empty placarded cars have to be the 2nd car from an engine or occupied car.

2 What types of material was considered “flammable?”

There are all sorts of commodities that are restricted.

Flammable Solids

Flammable liquids

Flammable gases

Oxidizers

Poison

Poison gas

Non-flammable gas

Corrosives

Explosives

3 Is it true that that box cars were used to separate the flammable cars from the locos?

Any non-placarded car or a cars with combustible placards can be used for cover (boxcars, flatcars, hoppers, covered hoppers, tank cars, etc.)

Dave H.