All,
I was in the Houston area last week and saw a car I've never seen before. There was a train rolling along with a string of covered hoppers, one tank car, and more covered hoppers. That one tank car was unique. It had no dome. No load pipes that I could see on top. No railing around where loading appliances would be. Nothing. It honestly looked like someone took a tank car, cut the middle section with the dome out, and glued the two halves back together again. My first thought was a sort of idler car, but why would they go through the trouble of removing top loading appliances to make an idler car? Just weld them all shut. Unfortunately, I was on the highway when I saw it so I couldn't snap a picture. Any idea why that car would exist?
Mike
Possibly a scale test car?
Gidday Mike, my apologies for not providing a link, still trying to suss how to do so on my phone, but I wonder if you saw an SR-603 LNG tank car, or similar Cryogenic rail tank car?
Cheers, the Bear,.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Bear, I think you are onto something. It wasn't the SR-603 as it was ribbed. It looked very similar to this, but without the side ladder, railing at the top, or whatever that box looking thing is next to the railing on top. Caption said this was a cryogenic car of some sort. Given the area I was at when I saw it, makes perfect sense. (by endless chemical plants and refineries)
Thanks for the tip. I believe you solved it.