Tank car

A tank car is a piece of railroad rolling stock designed to carry liquefied loads. Many variants exist due to the wide variety of liquids that can be transported. Tank cars can be insulated or non-insulated, pressurized or non-pressurized, and designed for single or multiple loads. Non-pressurized cars have a prominent dome at the top to allow for thermal expansion of the contents, and plumbing at the bottom for unloading. Pressurized cars have a sealed manhole at the top. Loading and unloading are done through this opening. Insulated cars are used when the contents must be kept at a certain temperature. Cars designed for multiple loads have internal bulkheads to separate the contents. Non-pressurized multiple load cars are easy to spot as each compartment has an expansion dome.

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Some truly gigantic tank cars have been built, riding on as many as eight axles. No more of these "rail whales" will be built, however. New regulations prohibit new ones from being built, and existing giants must eventually be retired.

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In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand, tank cars are called cylinder wagons.

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Railroad: REDIRECT Rail transport...

Rolling stock: Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons. Rolling stock is considered to be a liquid asset, or close to it, since the value of the vehicle can be readily estim...

Ireland: :This page is about the island of Ireland. For the political territories on the island, see Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the History section below....

Tank car related Images and Photos (experimental)

Authority: Tank	Car 3	Car I	Car Graffiti
The Car	Fish Tank	Fish Tank	Tall Car
Car Wash DVD (Widescreen)	The Car DVD (Widescreen)	Imperial Car (detail) c.1962	Classic Car