Crude Oil Tank Car Trains In WW II

Discussion in 'Freight Operations' started by WindsorSpring, Jul 7, 2014.

  1. WindsorSpring

    WindsorSpring Member

    While cars of phosphoric acid (UN 1805) frequently pass through Kirkwood on the former Frisco line, white phosphorus (UN 2447) or phosphorus under water (UN1381) are extremely rare on the Cuba Subdivision, which is a good idea considering all the flammable petrochemicals in the consists.

    I think I have seen phosphorus cars on the ex-MoPac UP line through Kirkwood and Webster Groves.

    White phosphorus cars I have seen not only have the UN 2447 placard but also have "Elemental Phosphorus" clearly printed on the car side.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 26, 2023
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  2. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    Couple of Barham shots from 42 and 43. One on the Rolla Sub and one on the Scissorbill
     

    Attached Files:

  3. gna

    gna Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I linked to this thread on another forum recently, and got this interesting reply from a gentleman named Dave Husman:

    I have a copy of the 1941 PRR General Notice No 225-B, "Regulations for the Transportation of Explosives and other dangerous articles".​

    In 1941 there were basically 3 placards, which were standardized by the AAR Bureau of Explosives: Explosives (a 14x11 rectangular placard), Poison Gas (a 14 x10 rectangular placard) and Dangerous (a square diamond 10" on each edge). The dangerous placard has a "dangerous empty" placard on the flip side. All of the stuff we have detailed placards for (non flammable gas, flammable gas, flammable, combustible, corrosive, oxidizer, flammable solid) were lumped together and placarded as simply "Dangerous".​

    Explosives cars must be placed near the middle of a through freight train but not nearer than the 16th car from the engine or 11th car from the caboose. Explosives in a local train must nearer than the 2nd car from the engine or caboose. Helpers must be at least 1 car away from a carload of explosives.

    Placarded loaded tank cars must not be next to a car with a lighted heater, stove or lantern, or mechanical regrigerator, must not be next to shiftable loads. In through freights they must not be nearer than the the 6th car from the engine or caboose or in a local train, not nearer than the second car, when train length permits and cars other than loaded tank cars are in the train.

    What that is saying is, if there are placarded tank cars and cars other than loaded tank cars in the train, then, 5 cars of cover are required (which can be any non placarded cars) between the engine/caboose and the dangerous tank cars.

    If the train is ENTIRELY loaded tank cars then NO cover cars are required.

    I also have a copy of the 1961 PRR General Notice 225-E (that means it was revised two other times between 1941 and 1961.

    By 1961, they have added three more placards: Dangerous-Radioactive, Residual Phosphorus, and Flammable poision gas. Explosives cars must be the 16th ar from the engine or caboose, train length permitting, other wise must be near the middle of the train. It must not be closer than the 6th car from the engine or caboose. They can't be next to passenger cars, engines, cabooses, other placarded dangerous cars, shiftable open top loads, mechanical reefers, cars with heaters or wooden underframe cars (except narrow gauge).

    Loaded placarded tank cars, except in trains consisting entirely of loaded placarded tank cars, it must not be closer than the 6th car, unless train length does not permit, then it can't be closer than the 2nd car to the engine, caboose or occupied passenger car. If its in a local train then it must not be closer than the 2nd car from the engine or caboose. Loaded tank cars placarded Dangerous can't be next to cars placarded explosives, poision gas or flammable poision gas, shiftable open top loads, mechanical reefers, cars with heaters or wooden underframe cars (except narrow gauge).

    So those are the rules for handling placarded cars up through the 1960's. Starting in the 1970's the placards changed again and then again in the 1980's.

    Up until the 1970's, a solid train of loaded placarded tank cars, such as a crude oil train, would NOT need ANY cover or buffer cars.​
     
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  4. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Regarding phosphorus

    Almost all elemental phosphorus (P4) is shipped in bulk tank cars under water. The P4 is unloaded by pumping water into the tank car, forcing the phosphorus out a dip pipe into its storage facilities. The full tank car and residual P4 is then shipped full back to the producing plant out west for another load. The process is then repeated as P4 is pumped into the tank car, forcing the water out.

    Elemental phosphorus does not explode. It is, however, toxic and highly flammable when exposed to oxygen in the air. It will make a spectacular fire. However, the P4 tank cars are quite robust, and the product is shipped and handled quite safely. Phosphorus is a building block of life in the form of phosphates and other phosphorus chemicals, and is a valuable product of commerce.

    Our bodies are ~ 1.5% phosphorus content if I remember correctly.

    Little or no P4 shipments go down the Frisco Eastern Division. P4 shipments are seen quite often on the UP (ex-MoP) across Missouri from the west. Another reason the P4 tank cars are so robust that they are always under load - full of either product phosphorus or full of water.

    Note the correct spelling: phosphorus. Not phosphorous - which is a different compound. This spelling is often used and it is totally wrong.

    Lots of phosphoric acid, H3PO4, is made It is a weak mineral acid. It is a high volume product, with many valuable end uses - industrial, pharma, food, chemical intermediate, etc. As a common example - take a look at your next bottle of Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, other colas. The phosphorus acid enhances the taste of the cola.

    The huge volumes of fertilizer phosphoric acid used to make fertilizers are made by another process entirely.

    End of chemistry lesson for today!

    K
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 26, 2023
  5. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    YAY for KEN! Three cheers!
     

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