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Proper Tank Car for Diesel Fuel Delivery

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  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 8:30 PM

Speaking of Diesel fuel, the New York Central was pretty resourceful in the pre-EPA days for using former locomotive tenders converted to fuel storage and pumping. For many years in the late 1960s and '70s I saw several six axle tenders painted in Century Green at a couple of the fueling tracks at Collinwood Yard in Cleveland.

There's a few photos of these in the Color Guide to NYC Freight and Passenger Equipment book. These would make a fun scratchbuilding/kitbashing project and add a little visual interest to your fuel facility...

Take care, Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: OH
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Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 8:06 PM

FRRYKid
I need to find the right car for carrying diesel fuel. I have done a lot of looking and am completely stumped. I am looking at the mid-70s era.

Easy enough..

By the 70s a lot of railroads was having fuel delivered by 18 wheel tanker trucks from the nearest fuel distributor or refinery.

Why is that?

Simple..Company owned tank cars was costing money and they looked for a better and cheaper solution.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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  • From: Southwest US
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 4:49 PM

My answer is totally invalid for your situation, but does meet my requirements:

JNR TaKi3000 class, 30 ton capacity bogie stock.  When I was stationed at Tachikawa AB (in the city of the same name) my commute route took me past the POL delivery siding.  There were always a bunch of them in place, and I never saw any other kind, so I assume that everything from jet fuel to diesel came in the same class car.

I have several of that class on my roster, but they will mostly run through.  Occasionally one will be routed to the diesel tank at Tomikawa or the fuel dealer at Haruyama, but they're embargoed from the TTT because they can't take the curves.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with appropriate rolling stock)

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  • From: Miles City, Montana
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Posted by FRRYKid on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 11:39 AM

gmpullman

 

plain 'ol Athearn Blue Box.

Good luck, Ed

 

I had seen one or two of those listed for sale, but I was thinking that they were too early for what I had in mind. I might have to change that plan and, when it comes, design some appropriate decals.

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
  • Member since
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  • From: Los Angeles
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Posted by West Coast S on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 11:34 AM

As I recall, Espee applied orange bands to the car ends when assigned to fuel service, these too were ancient examples equipped with friction bearings. In earlier times they custom built tank cars for the express purpose of transporting kerosene and gasoline for company use. 

Dave

SP the way it was in S scale
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  • From: Shenandoah Valley The Home Of Patsy Cline
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Posted by superbe on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 11:21 AM

Tank cars hauling petrileum producrs would be non-pressurised but dedicated to that service and would have DOT hazardous warnings. In addition to diesel they would haul #2 fuel, kerosene, and gasolines.

Just my

Bob

  • Member since
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  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 10:17 AM

First, don't assume that a tank car for delivering diesel fuel would necessarily go directly to a refinery in the 1970s.  During the 1970s and 80s, the Chicago & North Western used some very old riveted tank cars to take diesel fuel to the various locations in south east Wisconsin where their engines refueled.   The car may have been lawful for interchange but my hunch the C&NW bought its fuel from a dealer in Milwaukee who probably got it via a local pipeline. 

These home road tank cars were among the last old fashioned center sill/riveted car body/full dome tank cars I'd see in the 1980s.  In my photos they appear to still have friction bearings so eventually it would not have been accepted in interchange.  

Dave Nelson

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Posted by mlehman on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 6:46 AM

I'm not up on exact dating, but generally you'd want to use a car designated these days as a class 111 tank car. It's non-pressurized, generally a simple car without insulation, etc and is rated for non-hazardous materials. Here are a couple of useful links.

http://www.mcor-nmra.org/Publications/Articles/Tank%20Cars%20101%20for%20Model%20Railroaders.pdf

http://www.hazmat101.com/hazmat/docs/silhoutes.pdf

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 2:39 AM

Here's two possibilities, although I now see you're looking at mid '70s so maybe the Cities service car is a bit early for you...

OR THIS?

The top one is plain 'ol Athearn Blue Box and the bottom one a early Proto 2000 model.

Good luck, Ed

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
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Proper Tank Car for Diesel Fuel Delivery
Posted by FRRYKid on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 1:53 AM

Here's another one that I need help with. I need to find the right car for carrying diesel fuel. I have done a lot of looking and am completely stumped. I am looking at the mid-70s era. The car would need to be legal for interchange as this line doesn't have an online refinery. I am willing to work with most any manufacturer if they have the right car. (I have converted many "junk" [Tyco, Bachmann, Like-Life, etc] cars into good looking and rolling cars.) Thank you for any help the forums can provide.

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.

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