Tankcar Walkways

[ericsp]

Does anyone know why there are some GATX, ExxonMobil (HPLX), and GAMX (probably ex-GAMX), and (I think) DOWX 33,000 pressure tankcars that have walkways on both sides of the car? They are single compartment. It seems like all were built in 1969. That seems like a large expense with no benefits, that I can think of. I suppose you could make the argument that if some loses his balance on the walkeay and falls toward the center of the car he will not slide off of the car. Maybe the FRA mandated it on new tankcars for about 2 days.[:D]

[csxengineer98]

i think they stoped puting walkways down the sides of tank cars when they did away with the walk ways on the tops of box cars... no need for the brakemen to have to walk across the tops of the cars...or in the case of the tank car.no need to walk down the side of it...
and i do think the no walking across the top of the equipment while it was moving was an FRA ruling...
im probly 100% on all of this too...but hey... what do i know..im just an engineer..lol
csx engineer

[CShaveRR]

I wish I could see pictures of what you're saying. Roof walkways were already gone for a few years (from new construction) by 1969. Are you talking about walkways along the top of the tank, or down low? If they're up toward the top, are there side ladders on the cars? I have a feeling that all of this might have been an effort to fit safety-appliance requirements within clearance plates.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

I wish I could see pictures of what you're saying. Roof walkways were already gone for a few years (from new construction) by 1969. Are you talking about walkways along the top of the tank, or down low? If they're up toward the top, are there side ladders on the cars? I have a feeling that all of this might have been an effort to fit safety-appliance requirements within clearance plates.

Here is a picture of one (GATX 55954).
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/gatx/gatx55954.jpg
It seems like the HPLX cars are in the 564000 or 562000 series. The DOWX are in the 3300 sereis. And the GAMX I think are spread around the 9100 and 9200 series. I just saw a GAMX one a couple of days ago, I think it was GAMX 9206 or GAMX 9198.

[CShaveRR]

Thanks for posting the photograph. It certainly seems like a bit of overkill to have two walkways up there. As I suspected, no side ladder. I'm not well versed in which regulations came into play here, but that was obviously some sort of transitional time, soon after the lower walkways and center sills were allowed to be eliminated and before they came up with a better solution to gaining access to the manway.

The latest trend on these big tanks (both pressure and non-pressure) seems to be back to side ladders, but they're mounted toward one end of an elongated manway platform, probably so everything fits within the clearance diagram.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

The latest trend on these big tanks (both pressure and non-pressure) seems to be back to side ladders, but they're mounted toward one end of an elongated manway platform, probably so everything fits within the clearance diagram.

I have seen those, UTLX, PROX, PLMX, GATX, and TEIX. I first spotted the UTLX and PROX cars last millenium, the others I have only seen recently. I prefer the walkway along the top. I also like the whalebelly tankcars. I usually try to get a picture of those whenever I see one since they will not be around much longer.

[locomutt]

Thanks guys,I was beginning to think about the OLD tank cars,
where they still had an actual underframe.[:(]
THAT would seemingly justify the side walkways.
I finally realized we ain't talking the same thing.[8]

[edblysard]

We spot a lot of these in Intercontinental Terminals, they store, trans load, and fill tankcars...
They have drop down catwalks at their racks, we have to be precise on how we spot the cars so the catwalk hits right on the side opening in the rails, they add end walkways between the cars, so they can walk from one car to the next without having to climb down...they run hoses on the walk way..
It is rare we spot one car, they seem to show up in groups, and the unloading racks are built to fit the cars, they stay coupled up, we usually spot them in groups of four per rack.
I have watched them loading and unloading, they seem to hook them all up at once...

From what I have seen, the reason for the dual walk ways is so they can lay the hoses on one side, and still have a walkway free of obstructions on the other.

Ed

[ericsp]

These dual walkway tankcars will not be around for much longer. Since they were built in the late 1960s their 40 service life will be coming to a close in the next few years, so if you want to photograph them, you had better do it now.