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Domeless tank car - why?

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  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,830 posts
Domeless tank car - why?
Posted by Water Level Route on Monday, September 16, 2024 6:15 AM

All,

I was in the Houston area last week and saw a car I've never seen before.  There was a train rolling along with a string of covered hoppers, one tank car, and more covered hoppers.  That one tank car was unique.  It had no dome.  No load pipes that I could see on top.  No railing around where loading appliances would be.  Nothing.  It honestly looked like someone took a tank car, cut the middle section with the dome out, and glued the two halves back together again. My first thought was a sort of idler car, but why would they go through the trouble of removing top loading appliances to make an idler car?  Just weld them all shut.  Unfortunately, I was on the highway when I saw it so I couldn't snap a picture.  Any idea why that car would exist? 

Tags: dome , domeless , Tank Car

Mike

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,829 posts
Posted by maxman on Monday, September 16, 2024 12:09 PM

Possibly a scale test car?

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,228 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 3:31 AM

Gidday Mike, my apologies for not providing a link, still trying to suss how to do so on my phone, but I wonder if you saw an SR-603 LNG tank car, or similar Cryogenic rail tank car?

Cheers,  the Bear,. Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,830 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 5:41 AM

Bear, I think you are onto something.  It wasn't the SR-603 as it was ribbed.  It looked very similar to this, but without the side ladder, railing at the top, or whatever that box looking thing is next to the railing on top.  Caption said this was a cryogenic car of some sort.  Given the area I was at when I saw it, makes perfect sense. (by endless chemical plants and refineries)

Thanks for the tip.  I believe you solved it.

Mike

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 2:05 PM

Hello All,

On European railroads- -domeless tanker cars are the norm- -not the exception.

These are loaded and unloaded from the bottom and the lack of a dome allows for clearance in the smaller European tunnel bores.

I have not seen these on American rails but anything is possible.

Also, in Europe these cars don't seem to be cargo specific.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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