Tank car trains carrying flammables have to have a buffer car (boxcar, hopper...) between the locomotives and the tanks When did this law become effective?
Is that just on mainlines or branches too, where all is this effective?
I coppied this out of a PDF I found.
Regulations: Just after the turn of the 20th century, Congress directed the Interstate
Commerce Commission to formulate and publish "Regulations For The Transportation Of
Explosives" to promote the safe transportation in interstate commerce of explosives and other
dangerous articles. As the only nation-wide transportation system, the railroads played a large
role in the early framing of the rules and created the Bureau for the Safe Transportation of
Explosives and Other Dangerous Articles (later called the Bureau of Explosives) within the AAR
to inspect shipments and methods of manufacture and packing.
Impetus for the early laws and regulations was provided by a number of accidents
relating to shipments of black powder. It is thus not surprising that the first train placement rules
dealt with cars containing explosives. These early regulations required cars of explosives to be
placed near the center of the train, and at least 16 cars from the engine and 10 cars from the
caboose, when the length of train would permit. The "16 deep" rule was chosen because it was
considered to be a "safe distance" during a time when railroads used steam locomotives that
produced hot cinders and carried freight, including explosives, in wooden box cars.
By 1922, regulations were in effect to require cars placarded INFLAMMABLE17 to be
placed in trains at least five cars from the engine and five cars from the caboose. When the
length of the train did not permit this placement, the hazardous materials car was to be placed
near the middle of the train, separated from the engine or an occupied caboose by at least one
car, and the engine crew was to be informed of its presence and location in the train. Under no
circumstances could an INFLAMMABLE car be placed next to a car transporting explosives.
That covers explosives , but I believe Tank cars were covered at about the same time.
Speaking of Hazardous Loads I recall the Defense Department having a pretty tough time of it back in Spring of 1973!
Two incidents—only 36 days apart—involving 21 car loads of 500 pound bombs and 12 cars of LPG and propane in Roseville California and the second in Benson, Arizona with 12 cars of bombs! By my estimation there are about 216 bombs in each car.
In the first explosion windows were broken in Rocklin, CA—TEN miles away! In the second incident two crew members were injured when they jumped from their moving caboose... live bombs were hurled up to a mile away. Lotta' good a buffer car would help!
Interesting reading here:
http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fire80/PDF/f80004.pdf
Sorry if I got a little OT here, just thought you would be interested Ed
FRA ruling for modern times is the hazmat loaded tank car had to be 6 cars from a occupied locomotive or car.
However,railroads requested and was granted a exception and now a buffer car is required between the locomotive and tank cars and on the end of the train.. This does not apply for nonhazmat loads.
Side note.I have notice some covered hoppers has "For buffer car service only" by the number and I was told by a CSX employee these buffer cars is loaded with sand.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Today oil is carried in 100 car unit trains with a single buffer car behind the locomotive, and a buffer car may be added to the end of the train if there is distributed power back there.
Since there are always two locomotives, sometimes three on the lead of such trains, there is a lot of metal between the crew and the lading.
There *will* be more trains, and they *will* begin to move more quickly.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Rules require the hazardous load to be no closer than the 6th car from the engine, train length permitting. Under no circumstances may the hazardous car be next to the engine or caboose.
That "train length permitting" clause is what allows one car of cover. Since a solid ethanol or oil train has NO cars in it that can be used for cover, the train does not permit making th ehazmat cars the 6th cars from the engines. Since there must be at least one car of cover, the railroads add one buffer/cover car.
On a model railroad you have to use all the cover cars you have until the hazmat car is the 6th car from the engine. If you don't have enough cover then you have to use what you have to meet the minimum requirements. And that counts cover required in the train between certain types of commodities and loadings. It is perfectly legal to have less than 5 cars of cover between the engines and hazmat load, IF all the available cover in the train is consumed.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Example:
The yardmaster has the following cars:
The Tank-LPG can't be next to the engine so he needs a car of cover. The first car of cover is the Tank-Lube oil.
The Chlorine can't be next to the LPG, so a cover car goes there.
Engine
Tank-Lube oil
Tank-LPG
Tank-Chlorine
Covered Hopper-Fertilizer
Wow, there's much more to this that I thought. My layout's "customer base" and train lengths easily allow for my trains to meet the 6 car requirement, and now that I know all this good stuff, trains will be in accordance.
What initially prompted the question was a train I saw here in Bend OR, all black tankers but the covered hoppers, one fore and one aft. Now I know they probably have sand in them. They're not destined for Bend, just passin' through.
Thanks for the replies. Dan
I thought there was also a requirement that cars carrying flammable liquids or gases cannot be next to an ignition source (i.e. running mechanical reefer).
Also, in the example, are you assuming the fertilizer is a hazardous material?
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
ericsp I thought there was also a requirement that cars carrying flammable liquids or gases cannot be next to an ignition source (i.e. running mechanical reefer). Also, in the example, are you assuming the fertilizer is a hazardous material?
Judging by the NS,CSX and run through trains I don't think so since I've seen loaded centerbeams next to loaded hazmat tank cars.
Every oil can train I seen has one buffer car next to the engine as per the FRA/Railroad rule change agreement and the majority has a buffer car on the end.
I've also noted hazmat cars with one buffer car next to the engine.
How do I know loaded tank cars from empty?
Like any loaded freight car the truck springs will be fully depress.
BRAKIE ericsp I thought there was also a requirement that cars carrying flammable liquids or gases cannot be next to an ignition source (i.e. running mechanical reefer). Also, in the example, are you assuming the fertilizer is a hazardous material? Judging by the NS,CSX and run through trains I don't think so since I've seen loaded centerbeams next to loaded hazmat tank cars. Every oil can train I seen has one buffer car next to the engine as per the FRA/Railroad rule change agreement and the majority has a buffer car on the end. I've also noted hazmat cars with one buffer car next to the engine. How do I know loaded tank cars from empty? Like any loaded freight car the truck springs will be fully depress.
What are these center-beams carrying?
ericspWhat are these center-beams carrying?
Wrap and unwrap lumber.
ericsp I thought there was also a requirement that cars carrying flammable liquids or gases cannot be next to an ignition source (i.e. running mechanical reefer).
On the hazmat train placement chart that would be restriction #6, loaded tank cars of any restricted commodity (except radioactive) cannot be next to a car with an open flame or operating internal combustion engine.
I was assuming an "Oxidizer" placard (yellow 5.1).
BRAKIE Judging by the NS,CSX and run through trains I don't think so since I've seen loaded centerbeams next to loaded hazmat tank cars.
How do I know loaded tank cars from empty? Like any loaded freight car the truck springs will be fully depress.
dehusmanHopefully you know because your paperwork tells you its a hazardous load. If you don't have paperwork then you shouldn't be handling the car. Federal law.
That paper work use to mean lots to me but,means absolutely positively nothing to me today..I haven't railroaded since '84 but,since that time I spent thousands of hours track side happy as a two headed woodpecker in a bucket of worms I no longer have to worry FRA rules,ARF peeking around trees and hiding behind bushes watching for rule infractions etc..
And you're right no paper work or in compete paper work the car or the train was not moved until the problem was resolved.
And BTW..I place my model tank cars according to the FRA rules.wink/smile
Maybe a dumb question, but for the purpose of following this rule, what commodites are considered "hazmat"? Some seem obvious, like LPG, but are all petroleum products considered hazmat? What commodities carried by tank cars wouldn't be considered hazmat, and therefore could be placed next to a locomotive? Perhaps corn syrup or vegetable oil?
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
stokesdaPerhaps corn syrup or vegetable oil?
For starters yes,then there's beer and whiskey-no joke.I have no idea why that is shipped in tank cars or where its headed.Corn starch is another.
BRAKIE stokesda Perhaps corn syrup or vegetable oil? For starters yes,then there's beer and whiskey-no joke.I have no idea why that is shipped in tank cars or where its headed.Corn starch is another.
stokesda Perhaps corn syrup or vegetable oil?
We used to see a tank car of whiskey every so often. They appear on the train list as "alcoholic beverages" and are considered "flammable," just like alcohol/ethanol cars and have the complete hazmat contact and emergency response information included on the train list.
I haven't seen any for a while, but imagine they were on their way to plants where different types of whiskey are blended for bottling.
Jeff
stokesda Maybe a dumb question, but for the purpose of following this rule, what commodites are considered "hazmat"? Some seem obvious, like LPG, but are all petroleum products considered hazmat? What commodities carried by tank cars wouldn't be considered hazmat, and therefore could be placed next to a locomotive? Perhaps corn syrup or vegetable oil?
If it has a placard, it is a hazardous material. Not all petroleum products are considered hazardous in terms of shipping (most, if not all, lube oils are an example). If you want to know if something is considered hazardous, search for the material's material safety data sheet (MSDS). There will be a transportation section that will tell if its shipment is regulated by the DOT.
I have seen, or seen photographs of, tank car carrying the following without placards: acronal, biodiesel, butanediol, calcium bromide, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, caprolactam, chelating agents, clay slurries, corn syrup, epoxy, fatty acids, fertilizers, glycerines, glycols, grape juice concentrate, lard, latex, lube oils, lube oil additives, magnesium hydroxide, molasses, polyols, propylene glycol (a propanediol), sodium silicate, tallow, titanium dioxide, urea liquor, used oil, vegetable oils, water based emulsions, wine, and wort.
I have seen tank cars placarded 3257 (presumably carrying asphalt) next to locomotives. If I remember correctly, I have also seen tank cars placarded for combustible liquids and with Class 9 placards next to locomotives. Are the rules more relaxed for these commodities?
jeffhergert BRAKIE stokesda Perhaps corn syrup or vegetable oil? For starters yes,then there's beer and whiskey-no joke.I have no idea why that is shipped in tank cars or where its headed.Corn starch is another. We used to see a tank car of whiskey every so often. They appear on the train list as "alcoholic beverages" and are considered "flammable," just like alcohol/ethanol cars and have the complete hazmat contact and emergency response information included on the train list. I haven't seen any for a while, but imagine they were on their way to plants where different types of whiskey are blended for bottling. Jeff
I regularly see CWCX (Constellation Brands, formerly Canandaigua Wine Company) tank cars placarded 3065 (Alcoholic beverage, NOS). Occasionally I will see one placarded 1170 (ethanol).
ericspI have seen tank cars placarded 3257 (presumably carrying asphalt) next to locomotives. If I remember correctly, I have also seen tank cars placarded for combustible liquids and with Class 9 placards next to locomotives. Are the rules more relaxed for these commodities?
The last operating rule book I looked at was 2012 and such cars was to be six cars from a occupied car or locomotive however,since that time railroads ask for and received FRA authority to use 1 or 2 buffer cars behind the engine.
I been trying to locate a 2014 rule book for updates but,haven't succeeded.
I'm not sure if the train you saw was in compliance.
Maybe DaveH can shed some light on this.