Yellow Tape on freight cars.

[jmac70]

I have noticed lately that a lot of freight cars now have yellow stripes on the side. Long ones on the end and about 4 in between. They are about 5 inches wide. My question is what are these for.

James

[Wazzzy]

its reflective tape.

even though the crossing gates are down and the lights are flashing......idiots can't see the freight cars and attempt to bypass the gates. dumb, dumb, dumb.

[jimrice4449]

those are federally mandated reflective (Scotchlight or such) strips to prevent grade xing accidents caused by drivers not seeing (a string of mty flats for instance) at night.   Engs had to be done at once but cars apparently can wait until they, cycled through shops.

[wholeman]

These strips are especially visible at night at a rural crossing on a gravel road where there is no flashing lights.  I think that is the main purpose.

[ratled]

Lately I have been thinking about these too.  A follow up question to the OP.

When did these first start being used and when did they become common?

thanks

ratled

[dehusman]

Bing is your friend, less than 1 minute to find the answer:

http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1494

http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/mpe/chapter_14-224.pdf

[markpierce]

Have the decal manufacturers come out with a suitable product to simulate the reflective tape?

[wholeman]

markpierce

Have the decal manufacturers come out with a suitable product to simulate the reflective tape?

I just received some Athearn Auto-Max articulated auto carriers that have decals that look like reflective tape.  The decals have shiny finish.  They seem to "reflect."

[cv_acr]

The yellow stripes on every car is a new requirement, but many cars in the past have had reflective stickers applied to them (usually small white dots or diamonds along the sill of the car).

[Catt]

Micro-Scale has they stripes in at least two scale N and HO I weould not be surprized that they have them in O as well.the part number is 4389 with the chosen scale number for the prefix 60-4389,87-4389,48-4389.

[R. T. POTEET]

And I thought they were just holding the cars together! The things you learn here on the forum!