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.

Related Topics:
Railroad - Rolling stock

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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.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Ireland - New Zealand

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