Eastern Railroad Discussion > Tank car top color's

I watch BNSF at Fort Madison Ia. I see what I think is what I call 

the "K Line local". It usually has many tank cars on the K Line train

with some Yellow, White or Blue caps on some tank care. Do these

"colored caps" indicate the cargo inside the tank car? Tyia

I was wondering the same things.  LAtely, some tank cars have yellow, blue or green lids.  Any one know why?

My bad this ppost should have gone on

the western side since Ft Madison Ia is

west of the Mississippi River. 

Courtesy of Artificial Intelligence:

• =16pxYellow / Orange: Frequently indicate diesel fuel, flammable gases, or specific corrosive/molten substances.
• =16pxWhite: Commonly used for kerosene or cars equipped with Anhydrous Ammonia.
• =16pxBlue: Often reserved for dedicated waste oil or specific industrial chemical lines.
• =16pxRed: Historically designated for gasoline or high-hazard, explosive commodities.
• =16pxStriping: Some tanks, known as "candy stripers" (white with red stripes), carry Hydrocyanic Acid. Molten sulphur cars often feature a yellow band

We routinely get tanks of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) for a customer in Chattanooga. They have blue caps.

Posted from Android

Don't let artificial intelligence replace real intelligence.  Colored lids or other markings on a car are used by the shipper and not by the railroads.  The haz-mat placard has the final word as to what is in each car.

Eng.Shadetree

shadetree Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't let artificial intelligence replace real
> intelligence.  Colored lids or other markings on
> a car are used by the shipper and not by the
> railroads.  The haz-mat placard has the final
> word as to what is in each car.
>
> Eng.Shadetree

Ehhhh,, thats a simple answer but it gets a bit more complicated then that.  To a first responder yes looking at the placards will tell you what product is or was inside the tanke car either loaded or empty for sure.
But 5To really bore people with rules and regulations the FRA only allows certain types of tank cars to haul certain types of freight.  You'll need to get ahold of a regulations book to see what all types of tank cars can haul what and that book is as thick as a city phone book.  
But Shadetree is right to a causual observer or railfan just look up the placard on google and you can tell whats in the car.
JC

JasonCNW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> shadetree Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Don't let artificial intelligence replace real
> > intelligence.  Colored lids or other markings
> on
> > a car are used by the shipper and not by the
> > railroads.  The haz-mat placard has the final
> > word as to what is in each car.
> >
> > Eng.Shadetree
>
> Ehhhh,, thats a simple answer but it gets a bit
> more complicated then that. 

No, not really. The placard is the definitive answer as to what the tank is or was carrying.

> regulations the FRA only allows certain types of
> tank cars to haul certain types of freight. 

It is NOT so much the FRA, but industry councils, regulations, and rules. The individual product Safety Data Sheet, as well as the Hazardous Chemical Handbook (and similar handbooks), is the authoritative document on how the chemical is to be handled, transported, and stored. The FRA and similar government agencies overseeing other methods of transport incorporate and refer to those authoritative documents.