Tonight I saw a cut of tank car that were black and white. The center 1/2 was black, and end end was white. They were parked at a grain loadout/ fertilizer receiving operation on the BNSF in south eastern S.D. Does the black & white pattern mean anything special as far as what the car is used for, or is it just an interesting paint scheme? If it's just an interesting paint scheme, why don't we see more dalmation pattern cars, or tiger stiped, zebra stripped, or giraffe patterns?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
I see a number of those "reverse cop car" tanks coming through Rochelle, usually in manifests. As for other patterns, there have been some interesting grafitti patterns from time to time, but it's more interesting to me that tank cars seem to have less "artwork" on them than other types.
There are two separate ideas at work here.
One. The owner applied the paint scheme. Super-fancy paint schemes are either large decals or require fancy masking and a degree of artistic expertise. A single color, or two colors separated by a straight vertical line, can be laid on by anyone who can point a spray gun in the right direction. Since money talks...
Two. Grafitti 'artists' at work. They don't like to work on overhanging surfaces, so they reserve their major efforts for box cars...
Just my .
Chuck
I always figured that it was purely practical. Whatever is loaded in the car isn't as visible if it spills a bit while loading if the center is painted black, and the white ends may limit solar heating of the contents. Next time I see one, I'll try to see if it's placarded, and for what.
I see black cars with a yellow "stripe," too. They carry sulphur. I figure it's the same principle - spillage is less noticable.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I've never seen any "Holstein" tank cars around here. All I've seen are "Angus."
On the other hand, I HAVE seen some of those amazing "Oreo Cows" on some of the backroads!
Firelock76 I've never seen any "Holstein" tank cars around here. All I've seen are "Angus." On the other hand, I HAVE seen some of those amazing "Oreo Cows" on some of the backroads!
Recently, I saw a string of Tanks that was NB on the BNSF between Derby and Wichita. They were, Murphy, that string of iron Holsteins you mentioned seeing in your neck of the woods; decorated in black and white paint schemes.
Note to Firelock 76; watch those 'Oreo Cows' they may harbor a hybrid capability of delivering 'double stuff'. Careful when trapsing across those pastures.
Don't worry Sam, I've been in a cow pasture before and saw enough to tell me that those pastoral landscape artists from years past were, shall we say, "putting the best face on things."
I admire livestock from a distance, trust me, or from the safe side of the fence!
I'll tell you though, those "Oreo Cows," properly "Belted Galloways," ARE cool!
I admire livestock on a bun... with cheese.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
They are acid cars, as Tree pointed out, the black band allows any spill to be seen and cleaned.
The most common commodity I see in these cars is hydrogen peroxide, acrylic acids or chlorine.
Chlorine cars normally are stenciled on the side in easily read lettering.
23 17 46 11
What type of product might be shipped to a Farmer's Co-Op type receiver that deals in fertilizer and grain?
Murphy Siding What type of product might be shipped to a Farmer's Co-Op type receiver that deals in fertilizer and grain?
Phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid are a couple of possibilities. Does the company have a website that lists what they sell?
I have seen tank cars painted white with a black band at the middle carrying products other than acids. The two I can think of off hand are styrene and crude oil, but I doubt either of those would be going to a fertilizer dealer.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
ORNHOOAnhydrous Ammonia?
And, there are some compounds, such as ethanol, which are hydrophilic--they love to have water in them. You could fill a glass brimful with absolute (100%) ethanol, set it out in the Mohave Desert--and it will overflow as it pulls water out of the atmosphere until the mixture is 95% ethanol and 5% water.
Johnny
So what you are likely seeing are cars of liquid fertilizer or insect killers, especially now. They do a lot of crop spraying (corn) now as I recall from my days on the farm. Look for those really tall field sprayers, the ones that have the 8 foot tall skinny wheels and giant spray booms. In my days on the farm we mixed the DDT ? in 55 gallon drums strapped to the side of a tractor.
BOB WITHORN So what you are likely seeing are cars of liquid fertilizer or insect killers, especially now. They do a lot of crop spraying (corn) now as I recall from my days on the farm. Look for those really tall field sprayers, the ones that have the 8 foot tall skinny wheels and giant spray booms. In my days on the farm we mixed the DDT ? in 55 gallon drums strapped to the side of a tractor.
Followed one of those about 15 miles on US 15 South of Gettysburg when I was heading to Watkins Glen to race.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Very strange looking. When they unfold the spray arms it covers something like 50 feet at a time. You can almost walk under them without ducking.
They're out around here right now doing corn. Most I've seen have hoses hanging down from the arms to put the product closer to the ground. I suppose it depends on what they're spraying.
Petty much. They cultivate between rows to get at weeds and loosen up the soil before it gets too tall. As I recall now is bug spray so the ears can develop. Must be quite a drive sitting up that high on the road.
The crop dusters are also out flying around. I saw my first of this year taking off last week.
Jeff
BOB WITHORNVery strange looking. When they unfold the spray arms it covers something like 50 feet at a time. You can almost walk under them without ducking.
- Paul North.
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV
Pual,
If I'm in the corvette I could just go under/through them.
I've seen them up here in mn on both the BNSF and the CP. they have had the same placard as the black oil cans coming out of North Dakota. So I'd assume they haul black gold also.
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