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6 axle tank cars??

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CShaveRR
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, December 28, 2009 8:48 AM
Thanks for that, Eric! I thought it was gone forever.

Yesterday at work we saw the other extreme: a 4400-gallon EBAX tank car, no doubt for carrying anti-knock compounds. These probably don't get much larger because of the commodity's volatility.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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ericsp
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Posted by ericsp on Monday, December 28, 2009 12:01 AM

ericsp
Have look at the this website.

 

Here is the new location for the Rail Whales website. 

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

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Modelcar
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Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, September 18, 2005 7:58 AM
....I wonder why a tank is constructed {much larger than most}, to carry one of the heaviest loads....? Seems it would go the other direction.

Quentin

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Modelcar
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Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, September 18, 2005 7:52 AM
....Guess I was close on my est. of the anti-freeze wt. and using 43,800 gal brings it to 203 tons....Still a bit over weight....If filled...That's as much as a large 6-axle engine...! No wonder it has 4 trucks under it....

Quentin

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ericsp
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Posted by ericsp on Sunday, September 18, 2005 1:37 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....Those are strictly large size in any comparison......As we mentioned in above post wondering about these mammoth cars hauling permanent anti-freeze....That would be roughly 215 tons if filled....Over their limit. I'm using 10 lbs. / gal...as a rough guess what it {anti-freeze}, weighs.

According to DuPont's MSDS, it has a specific gravity of 1.115, assuming a density of 62.4 pounds/cubic foot for water, that means ethylene glycol has a density of approximately 9.27 pounds/gallon.

Here is a photograph of a 6-axle tank car carrying ethylene glycol.
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29666_Harris.htm

Here are some photographs of 8-axle tank cars carrying ethylene glycol.
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_12405a_Harris.htm
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_297XX_Gerard.htm
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29700_1_zeni.htm
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29706_JTB.htm

Also, add ammonia to the list of commodities I posted previously. I do not know how I forgot about those since some, or all, of the NATX 38000 series 6-axle cars were leased to Valley Nitrogen Producers (VNP). There are still a few sitting at the former VNP (now Simplot plant) at Helm, CA. and one at a fertilizer distributor north of Bakersfield, all used for storage.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

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Modelcar
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Posted by Modelcar on Saturday, September 17, 2005 8:23 PM
....Those are strictly large size in any comparison......As we mentioned in above post wondering about these mammoth cars hauling permanent anti-freeze....That would be roughly 215 tons if filled....Over their limit. I'm using 10 lbs. / gal...as a rough guess what it {anti-freeze}, weighs.

Quentin

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edblysard
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Posted by edblysard on Saturday, September 17, 2005 5:16 PM
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29727_Hoge.htm
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29747_Frederick.htm
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29747a_Frederick.htm
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29747c_Frederick.htm
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/DUPX/DUPX_29747e_Frederick.htm
Adrian,
Handled both of these guys today...
DUPX 29747, look at the details Tim got in his photos...

Ed

23 17 46 11

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wabash1
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Posted by wabash1 on Friday, September 16, 2005 12:23 AM
those cars hold 200 tons each regular cars are 130 tons.
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Modelcar
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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 8:22 PM
Wow.....A tank car that size and...loaded with ethylene glyco would be extremely HEAVY....!!! That product is very heavy. If I remember correctly a 55 gal drum weighs in around 600 to 700 lbs....

Quentin

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ericsp
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Posted by ericsp on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 8:08 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

mononfan....they gotta use 6 axle trucks because of the weight of that commodity and subdivision weight restrictions. if i remember right, those cars are full of acid.

Some of the cars in the phorographs are placarded for acetic acid. I have also seen ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride, and it seems like something else.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 10:02 AM
mononfan....they gotta use 6 axle trucks because of the weight of that commodity and subdivision weight restrictions. if i remember right, those cars are full of acid.
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CShaveRR
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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 12:18 AM
I haven't seen one up my way in ages!

I think you'll find these cars (or whichever series of such cars you usually see) on the same routes all the time, hauling the same commodity from one origin to one destination (and returning empty). Hard to believe that we Chicagoans miss out on most, if not all, of these movements, but it's not hard to visualize Houston as being a focal point for such cars.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 10:25 PM
Usually 2 to 6 CELX cars are on NS 111 from Louisville, Ky to Danville, KY. Not sure of their origin, destination, or contents. They are quite a sight to see!
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Modelcar
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Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 9:21 PM
....I have seen 6-axle tank cars roll through Muncie, In. here back when our double track east / west line was Conrail. Haven't noticed any recently and since it now is CSX. There may still be some but I have not seen any for some time now.....

Quentin

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TH&B
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Posted by TH&B on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 8:50 PM
I like them too, I used to see them around Niagra Falls NY, but I never see them any more ;-(
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edblysard
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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 8:47 PM
Most of the whales carry refinery product...LPG, butadiene, propane...unless you have a user there, odds are you won’t see one...they stay around here, Louisiana and California a lot...
Ed

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TrainFreak409
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Posted by TrainFreak409 on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 8:32 PM
I always did like the big, unusual freight cars. I wish we got some of them through western Maryland. [sigh]

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

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edblysard
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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 7:19 PM
All the time...
http://rwhales.railstuff.net/GATX/GATX_94688_MMP.htm
big bombs on wheels...
GCOR say I can only let two loads roll free at a time...gee, wonder why!

Ed

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adrianspeeder
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Posted by adrianspeeder on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 6:28 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Well,
The whale belly web site is one used by modelers looking for prototype photos...A friend of mine must have thousands of photos of a Cargill Corn Syrup tank car, a specific type, along with builders elevations and numerous measurements he made,,, and his design is now in production by Atlas...its on their "New Products" website.

Look at the model page on the website and you can see the work of some of the folks..

Ed



You handle any of those Ed?

Adrianspeeder

USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman

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edblysard
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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 6:14 PM
Well,
The whale belly web site is one used by modelers looking for prototype photos...A friend of mine must have thousands of photos of a Cargill Corn Syrup tank car, a specific type, along with builders elevations and numerous measurements he made,,, and his design is now in production by Atlas...its on their "New Products" website.

By the way, he is a Trains forum member...

Look at the model page on the website and you can see the work of some of the folks..

Ed

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adrianspeeder
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Posted by adrianspeeder on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 12:37 PM
Still pretty cool though, made it to my bookmark list.

Adrianspeeder

USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman

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cefinkjr
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Posted by cefinkjr on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 11:36 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

Have look at the this website.


That web site looks like a winner in a Most Narrowly Defined Web Site contest ("A web site about six- and eight-axle tank cars"). Or is there a web site devoted to cast iron flanged wheels (but not axles) or maybe just traction motor support bearings? [:D][:D]

Chuck

Chuck
Allen, TX

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Boxcar Willy
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Posted by Boxcar Willy on Monday, September 12, 2005 7:43 PM
Originally posted by edblysard

http://www.krunk.org/~joeshaw/pics/pvt-tank/celx/celx6420.jpg

Look something like these?
Did you get any reporting marks?

Ed
Boy!! That's some kinda tank car!
Boxcar Willy.
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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 7:28 PM
in alliance tx i have seen 8 axles tank cars. i guess they are double the size of a normal tank car but i am not sure.
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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 6:37 PM
Nice shot Dan!! Like I mentioned earlier, they must have moved the engine this morning to make repairs.
Would that have been FURX on that one locomotive?
I am headed east this evening, maybe I'll get lucky and see something.
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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 6:35 PM
I don't have any pictures of these tank cars but I will say that back in the 1990s I used to see them a lot. At least every chemical tank train had a few of these. I still see these tank cars every once in a while, and they are indeed very big.
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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 6:28 PM
It seems like having any sort of 6 axle frieght car trucks in use would cause more maintenance pains and require shops to carry more parts.

mononfan865

Norfolk Southern d9-40cw MONON ALCO c-420.
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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 6:24 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by RLHainey

By chance do you know what repairs were going on? They were replacing any electrical or tractive parts. Looks like it may have been something around the coupler/drawbar area.

I do not really know what was going on, there was no one around yesterday evening. i was over at strong for about an hour and saw i train come through, it had a pretty awesoem consit too, a c44-9w BNSF, BN sd9!!, nrex or nerx i dunno which sd50 in up colors, a grey nrex or nerx sd40t-2, a ATSF b23-7, and a BN sd40-2!!!! And there were lots of cool frieght cars!! including those monster tank cars!
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Anonymous
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 6:18 PM
Likely the Celeanse CELX tank cars that run on the M-AMSKCK all the time. They come from Kings Mill, TX. Not really all that rare, actually.
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