I just committed a classic model railroading faux pas… I came across a great deal on a pair of blue Walthers 54’ modern tank car kits on eBay. I decided it was too good a deal to pass up, so of course I bought them. The only problem is, now I have to figure out how to use them on my layout [:P]
For now, I’m just thinking some kind of transloading type scenario at the team track, but it would be helpful to know what’s supposed to be inside these things.
So that’s my question… what commodity is typically transported in blue tank cars?
Generally speaking, is there any significance to the color of a tank car? Are certain colors used exclusively for certain commodities?
Since most tank cars are black, I’m assuming it’s the cheapest most effective color. So, to not use black, there’s a reason. White can be used because it’s the least energy (heat) absorptive. I haven’t heard of any color coding for tank car colors, so other than the above two reasons, I think it’s purely decorative. Just like boxcars.
BUT.
When you get your rather attractive new tank cars, you might find that a careful examination of the applied lettering will answer your question. I was recently watching a train with a buncha tank cars, and noted the magic word “sulfur” on the side. Other times, you can figure out the load from the owning company. Or, at least, get a good start.
Anything you want. If it is hazardous…that will be designated by the placard that will be placed in the holders on the four sides of the car. They have been around for quite some time. You just may have not seen any around in the area that You live.
Actually just google “blue tank cars” and click on images.
A very quick look at the reporting marks ACFX, American Car & Foundry Co, and UTLX, Union Tank Car doesn’t really help on the contents, though if you could blow up the images, (as in enlarge, not the use of C4 or the like) the hazard sign may give an indication.
The OXAX reporting mark is assigned to OXEA Chemicals, further research may come up with what they transported.
Cheers, the Bear.
PS. Nothing wrong with a “great deal”.[swg]
Color doesn’t determine the load. Most companies probably use black to hide spills, leaks, or overflows. It is your railroad, and you could use them for whatever you want. Though I would stay away from liquid asphalt, since some can spill on the sides of the car during loading, so black would be a better color.
There’s nothing stopping you from using those blue tank cars to carry liquified improbabillium from somewhere east to somewhere west. It’s just that they shouldn’t show up in every through freight.
A train of improbable cars resides in one of my cassettes. Once or twice a timetable month the superspeed container cars, auto racks and reefer get hauled one lap around the mainline with a DE10 on the point and the green brake van carrying the markers. Then it’s back into their cassette and back to the wall rack 'til next time.
There is not now and never will be a place for any of those cars to unload on the visible part of my layout. But Japan is a big country, and I’m only modeling a few square kilometers in the approximate heart of nowhere.
The color means almost nothing. Do you have the Walthers part number or the car initials and number? Are there any slogans or company names? Can you tell if it’s a pressurized or non-pressurized car?
The Walthers kit is a model of a UTLX Funnel-Flow, approximately 23,500 gallon, DOT111A100W-1 tank car. It is a UTLX car, somewhere in the UTLX 640000 series if I remember correctly, that was leased to Union Carbide.
Potential loads are just about any organic, liquid chemical Dow Chemical (which bought Union Carbide) makes. Most inorganic chemicals would be too dense for the car and gases are prohibited.
Great post Wayne! As usual, I learn so much from your posts. Although you would think capacitors would probably be shipped in a box car, not all of them are, as the Gern Flux Capacitor is shipped in tank cars, also. I read in the Gern literature that Gern ships them in blue colored tank cars! Therein lays the answer to the O.P.'s question!
Thanks for everyone’s responses. You guys kill me! Smurfberry Juice, Blueberry Juice, Gern, etc… [:D]
The cars are lettered for UTLX. From the auction photos, I couldn’t make out any special markings, but they did have what I think are the generic yellow and black labels that say “in case of emergency, call this phone number”. Once I get them, I’ll check them out with a magnifying glass to see if there’s any tiny writing that gives any more clues. Otherwise, Smurfberry Juice it is! [:)]
Like I said earlier…You may put any commodity in a tank car, whatever the color, if it contained Hazardous material…by heavily enforced law, a hazmat placard one on each four sides must be displayed in the placard holders, those diamond shaped holders on each side of the car that a lot of people don’t have a clue what they are used for. Different hazmat placards in use throughout the transportation industry…below:
