Rolling Stock Information

[Anonymous]

I would like to find out information about the prototypes of various rolling stock I have purchased for my layout. Things like the types of loads in the cars and how they were placed in a train. For example, beer can tank cars. What did they carry? Were they ever included in a train with other cars? Things like that. Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated.

[jimrice4449]

A lot depends on what time frame you're modeling. If it's the "transition era" you will want your loaded stock cars immediatly behind the engine' Stock cars are no longer used (except that the BN used to haul freshly creosoted ties in them...but livestock is no longer shipped by rail). The tank car's location would depend on whether or not they were loaded w/ "danagerous" commodities (flamables, chlorine, acid, etc) in which case they would be entrained w/ 5 crs between them and an engine or occupied caboose. If a flat car is loaded w/ something that could shift laterally (lumber, pipe, etc) or if a gondola has a load extending above the ends it would have to have a car suffiiently high to provide a barrier between the engine or occupied caboose. There are all sorts of local restrictions such as no empty flats or pig flats w/ a van at only one end near the head end, but the above gives you a fair idea of the most prevelant re4strictions.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information! As you stated that there needs to be 5 cars between the tank cars and the engine or an occupied caboose, what kind of cars are acceptable between the engine and the tank cars? Can these cars be loaded? Does it make a difference if the tanks cars are used for a hazardous material, but are empty at the time they are in the train?

[dehusman]

The cars used for "cover" can be loaded or empty, they just can't be other placarded tank car loads (except for combustible) or certain other commodities. So you could use a loaded tank car of fuel oil, but not a tank car of LPG.

If the hazmat tank car is empty then it only needs 1 car of cover.

Dave H.