Modern Tank Cars

[NW Mailing List]

Kenneth is correct in his response. In order to tank cars to evacuate more efficiently, the center of the car is lower that either end, while maintaining the same or a larger diameter. This allows for use of the tank car to carry various different commodities, not at the same time, but throughout its life cycle if needed. 
 
Union Tank Car came up with the original design in the 1960's, which lives on today. Other tank car builders have also adopted this design, which helps ensure the the entire lading is unloaded.
 
Regards,
Russ Goodwin> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:33:05 -0500> To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> Subject: Re: Modern Tank Cars> From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> > Terry,> > I suspect that what you're seeing is not that the center is smaller, but > that it is lower. A number of modern tank cars have the center lower > (think of a piece of pipe cut at an angle, then re-joined) so that the > liquid contents will drain more efficiently.> > I'd hesitate to say that there are no cars with a smaller diameter > waist, but I can't think of any that I've ever noticed.> > Kenneth Rickman> > NW Mailing List wrote:> > I was "railfanning" with some friends this weekend at Vardo (NS > > Hagerstown, MD) - one of my friends asked why the newer tank cars are > > smaller in the center than at the ends ?> > > > We thought it was to control the contents of loaded cars but would be > > interested in the comments from the "real" railroaders.> > > > Terry Marshall> > Hagerstown, MD> ________________________________________> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org> To change your subscription go to> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
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