I have several tank cars but don't know if they all would be used in the same time frame or era.
Anyone know time periods of types of tank car useage?
Earlier tank cars are normally 'framed'. The tank is attached to the frame at the center discharge, and bands are used at the ends to hold them down. These classic cars typically come in 6,000 to 13,000 gallon capacity. They were built at least up into the 50's.
Current tank cars usually are of the 'frameless' variety and can vary from 18,000 to 33,000 gallon capacity. Production of this style started in the 60's, but some were built earlier.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier Earlier tank cars are normally 'framed'. The tank is attached to the frame at the center discharge, and bands are used at the ends to hold them down. These classic cars typically come in 6,000 to 13,000 gallon capacity. They were built at least up into the 50's. Current tank cars usually are of the 'frameless' variety and can vary from 18,000 to 33,000 gallon capacity. Production of this style started in the 60's, but some were built earlier. Jim
So realistically speaking you could have the "60s or earlier" newer models in a contemporary themed model RR?
Well, not exactly. You have the 40 year rule to consider. If a freight car was built before June/July of 1973, it cannot be used in interchange service after 40 years(2013), unless it has been rebuilt. And then it is good only for another 10 years(IIRC). Cars built after that date are '50 year cars'. So, even modern frameless cars built in the 60's are outlawed at this point.
If you are modeling 'right now' - None of your cars should have a build date before 1973(someone correct me if I got this wrong).
BTW, John Van *** who invented the center attachment tank car design, also invented the frameless design(the metal/welding technology just was not there at the time). There were frameless tank cars using his designs in the early 1900's.
Jim Bernier
jrbernier Well, not exactly. You have the 40 year rule to consider. If a freight car was built before June/July of 1973, it cannot be used in interchange service after 40 years(2013), unless it has been rebuilt. And then it is good only for another 10 years(IIRC). Cars built after that date are '50 year cars'. So, even modern frameless cars built in the 60's are outlawed at this point. If you are modeling 'right now' - None of your cars should have a build date before 1973(someone correct me if I got this wrong). BTW, John Van *** who invented the center attachment tank car design, also invented the frameless design(the metal/welding technology just was not there at the time). There were frameless tank cars using his designs in the early 1900's. Jim Bernier
thanks Jim
Where do you get this kind of info?
This link (IF IT WORKS) will link to an older forum thread about "Hot Dog" tank cars, which includes some interesting info and a link to a pdf of the history of ULTX tank cars..
If it doesn't, here's the link http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/212740/2332083.aspx#2332083ETA: of course the link didn't work, something is quite flaky with posting active internal links to other threads on the MR forum (at least in IE10)
Here's the direct link to the ULTX tank car company history (this link should be OK).That work does work, and the Van Dike frameless tank car makes it's debut in 1901 (I misspelled the name to get around the MR anti-lesbian auto-censor). Frameless tank cars seem to return in the late 1950s with the "Hot Dog" tank car (at least for UTLX), and the rest is history (I really like the shot of the rakes of old-style framed tank-cars lined up outside the big white geodestic dome on page 25).
BBF,
I got lots of tank car info from attending RPM-Naperville meets in October. The rest of the info is available on the Internet if one does a lot of 'surfing'....
Let me recommend two fine Morning Sun books on tanks cars, both by James Kinkaid.
Tank Car Color Guide Vol1 - Cars with Full Center Sills. Vol 2 - Stub Sill Cars. There is useful information in the captions and in the brief text, and where he can Kinkaid gives built date and date of photograph, which is helpful.
One thing becomes clear when you review these books -- that there are many tank car types that have yet to see a commercial model. A case can be made that tanks cars are the most neglected prototype.
Dave Nelson
I believe MR had a good historical article on tank cars during the 2012 issue year- I'm not sure which particular month, though.
Cedarwoodron
Few more tank car facts based on my memory --riveted shell cars were all removed from interchange service about 1970. Don't remember the exact date but hazardous materials cars had to have extended pocket couples somewhere in the 1980s, I believe. I also remember that hazardous material cars had to have dual heads as part of the shell construction, something you can not see from the outside of the car. I know Jim is right about the 40 year rule as it has been in existence since at least the early 1970's. I was involved with a business that sent 20 old 10,000 gallon private owned cars through the Union Tank Car shops for rebuilding to extend the life an extra 10 years. At the end of the 10 years they were all scrapped and replaced with 20,000 gallon "modern" cars. The tank car part of railroading is truly a specialty area.