Canadian Railroads > Freight Car Friday - Don't Knock These DuPont Tank Cars

While returning some slides to the Logan box, I ran across this trio of tank cars in service for DuPont. The intended lading is 'motor fuel anti-knock compound only.' They were such pretty little things, classic small tank cars with full walkways and a beautiful paint scheme. The shots were taken at the west end of CN's Walkley Yard in Ottawa (by or from the Bank Street overpass), or in the third case, in the yard itself.
1. DOCX 6001, blt. 9-65, with clear indications it's a Procor tank (leased to DuPont, I presume). It's in the consist of #301 at 1202, on December 17, 1976. Water capacity is 51,684 lbs, and the volume capacity is 5,163 Imperial gallons. For you trivia buffs, that means water's density is approximately 10 lbs/Imp gallon. Note the friction bearing trucks.
2. DOCX 6039, blt. 5-69, on roller bearing trucks, with a water capacity of 52,425 lbs, volume capacity of 5,230 Imp. gallons. It's in the consist of #307 at 1630, on July 13, 1977. Procor ownership is still indicated in the stencil data.
3. DOCX 6040, also blt. 5-69, so presumably the same batch as the previous car. It's in the consist of #301 at 1115, on December 3, 1977. Notice the water capacity is 52,335 lbs, volume unknown (on end of car). It seems odd to have that tiny variance. Comparing stenciling, you can see many differences in the arrangement, and the lack of Procor identification. You'll also note that this one now has a French indication of the contents as well - composé anitdétonant. I'm assuming the acute accent on the 'e's; someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
Something showed up on these scans that I've never had happen before - you can see a green vertical line near the left edge, and an orange-y one near the middle. Does anyone know the cause? Is there an adjustment I can make, or is my scanner on borrowed time?
Fred
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/23 10:30 by feclark.

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6541.8 US gallons based on the water weight

I remember seeing lots of these colorful cars in Santa Fe freight trains passing through Stockton, CA.  DuPont had a large plant in Oakley, 30+ miles to the west, which manufactured "anti knock" compound, plus a few other products.  The plant ceased operations in 1999.  I miss seeing those beautiful tank cars.

lynnpowell Wrote:
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> I remember seeing lots of these colorful cars in
> Santa Fe freight trains passing through Stockton,
> CA.  DuPont had a large plant in Oakley, 30+
> miles to the west, which manufactured "anti knock"
> compound, plus a few other products.  The plant
> ceased operations in 1999.  I miss seeing those
> beautiful tank cars.

It is my understanding "Anti Knock Compound" was a lead additive used in premium gasoline, it's use outlawed at some point.  "Fill it with ethyl" was a common phrase told to a filling station attendant in the 50's and 60's.  I grew up near Walnut Creek in the San Ramon Valley along the Southern Pacific San Ramon Branch, a relatively short distance southwest of the Du Pont facility at Oakley.  I remember many times the daily SP local would have one or two of these tank cars in their train.  I never could figure out why and could only assume they were switched in and out of the consist at an Avon refinery (where the branch began) and brought along for the ride to the end of the line at Danville.  I would watch the train do its work at the lumber yard in Danville then return to Avon holding onto the colorful tank cars the whole time.  

Great pictures.  Thank you for the memory.

Jeff Pell
Lodi, CA

Led tetraethyl (the principal antiknock compound before 1968)  has a density of 1.65 grams/cc. 

That's 65 percent heavier than water. Seriously heavy. So don't count on water density for volume calculations. 

march_hare Wrote:
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> Led tetraethyl (the principal antiknock compound
> before 1968)  has a density of 1.65 grams/cc. 
>
> That's 65 percent heavier than water. Seriously
> heavy. So don't count on water density for volume
> calculations. 

In these instances, the volume is not a calculation, it's in the data stenciled on the ends of the cars where visible.
Fred