TANK CAR SAFETY PROJECT...MILEPOST IN RAILROAD RESEARCH

The tank car is a special type of freight car and has a unique character of its own. This unique character relates to what happens when a tank car is damaged or derailed and releases its lading. Much has been learned about tank cars as a result of the Tank Car Safety Research and Test Project. Four results have been achieved: (1) a better understanding of tank car performance, of how to improve tank car safety, (2) a better understanding of the design character of certain components of any freight car that can reduce the severity of damage when a wreck or derailment occurs, (3) various forces in the railroad industry joined ranks and proved that they could get far more done by working in unison than separately, and (4) there is an emerging methodology of railroad research that has been applied more extensively and more intensively to the tank car project than any other heretofore. Significant is the conclusion that "while head punctures can be reduced significantly by a head shield, the E top and bottom shelf coupler is not only more effective, but is significantly more cost-effective." To evaluate the shelf coupler in normal service, 200 car sets are currently being installed by railroads and tank car companies.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/4175009
• Corporate Authors:

  Murphy-Richter Publishing Company

  20 North Wacker Driver
  Chicago, IL  United States  60606
• Publication Date: 1973-3

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 57-58
• Serial:
  • Progressive Railroading
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Trade Press Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0033-0817
  • Serial URL: http://www.progressiverailroading.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Derailments; Hazardous materials; Railroad safety; Safety; Tank cars
• Old TRIS Terms: Tank car safety; Tank car safety research and test project
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044009
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Progressive Railroading
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 1 1976 12:00AM