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GATX Vinyl Chloride Pressurized "Railwhale"

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  • Member since
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  • From: US
  • 13 posts
GATX Vinyl Chloride Pressurized "Railwhale"
Posted by nyandw on Thursday, March 30, 2017 9:26 PM

A pressurizied 6 axle vinyl chloride "Railwhale" tank car. Holban Yard, NY LIRR 1971. Any details on this car prototype and how to go about a model?

 

  • Steve Lynch http://www.trainsarefun.com 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, March 30, 2017 10:31 PM

To find a prototype photo of this car, you need a reporting mark, which I'm thinking is GATX, and a car number.

Here's a link to GATX 94688, side ladders, no running board, 6 axle, and looks like the same series that you show,  As far as modeling it, " how to go about a model" is up to you and your imagination. 

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/bynumber/gatx094650-094706.htm

So, are looking for a kit?  or maybe someone that has model this?  You'll have to search around.  If you had a car number,

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/  would be a good start to find the exact prototype.

You might try to find an expert tank car modeler, tankcarsrule, and see if he has modeled this, or a similar car.

Mike.

EDIT:  The first link was live, until I posted.  Copy and paste.

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, March 31, 2017 2:07 AM
Here’s a link to tankcarsrule site……
…and if this is the class of car, follow the Google bread crumbs. Bobby mentions using two Athearn 62” cars on another forum.

Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 31, 2017 8:53 AM

Thanks Bear.  I see he has just what the OP is asking for, on the first page of Bobby's photos, along with progress photos.  Perfect.  The man is an artist.

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 13 posts
Posted by nyandw on Friday, March 31, 2017 9:20 PM

It's GATX-tank-car-98222. I was interested in the use of this two hull pressu.rized car that carries vinyl chloride. Would this be used in toxic cleanup? Or?  Thanks folks for the start

  • Steve Lynch http://www.trainsarefun.com 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 31, 2017 11:57 PM

Well, I guess to have to research it further, as you have done in other forums.  Seems like it could have been used in toxic clean-ups. Smile, Wink & Grin

Mike.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
  • 10,621 posts
Posted by dehusman on Saturday, April 1, 2017 7:02 AM

Vinyl chloride is a feedstock for making plastic, as in PVC poly vinyl chloride.  They were not used "for clean ups" they were used for transportation of feedstocks, they were just a large car.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 13 posts
Posted by nyandw on Saturday, April 1, 2017 7:34 PM

 

More info:

 

Vinyl chloride monomer is a compressed liquefied gas. It is extremely flammable (flash point -108 deg. F), and is toxic to breathe. It would only be useful in a chemical processing facility which could polymerize it into poly(vinyl chloride) which is what's used as electrical insulation and backyard wading pools. The Alchemist can't think of any plant on LI, then or now, that could use it. If the car was consigned to a customer on Long Island I think it must have been carrying something other than vinyl chloride?
 
it was likely headed from/to Hooker Chemical in Hicksville, which later became Ruco Polymer (and finally Bayer Chemical before closing). A good piece of evidence - the EPA's superfund site information for that facility shows vinyl & polyvinyl chlorides as contaminants in the soil.

  • Steve Lynch http://www.trainsarefun.com 

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