Shields or plates attached on the ends of the cars are to protect from couplers piercing the tanks?
Bingo!
Tank cars also have shelf couplers, which help keep the cars coupled as well.
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...
Not all the tankcars have this is it depending on commodity?
Rambo2 Not all the tankcars have this is it depending on commodity?
1. Maybe... not all tanks carry hazmat.
2. Some tanks have the visible shields, some have thickened ends, or head shields underneath tank insulation, neither of which would be visually obvious.
3. It's a relatively newer thing and cars built 30-50 years ago and still in service don't have them. Some of these older cars are being bumped out of hazmat service and/or retired due to the changing regulations.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
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