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sawmilleng
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Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Canada - Member -

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Location: In the sticks of the Central Kootenays, BC, Canada
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Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/03/2007 10:36 AM

I'm curious about the odd shape of some railway tank cars. Most I see are simply cylindrical with various ends, depending on whether they are pressurized or not. However, I have recently noticed some tanks that have a shape somewhat like a sausage--slightly narrower in the middle and curving upwards towards each end. The bottom side of the tank seems to be straight. I cannot tell if the horizontal diameter of the tank increases towards each end, but the vertical diameter is at least 6-12" taller at each end than in the middle.

What is the reason for this odd shape, which must be a challenge to build, compared to a plain cylindrical tank?

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PWSlack
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United Kingdom - Member - Indeterminate Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

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#1

Re: Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/03/2007 11:56 AM

...so that the liquid inside drains out the middle, no matter what gradient the vehicle is parked on, and none gets left behind?

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Bill
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Location: Clemson, South Carolina
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#2

Re: Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/03/2007 2:59 PM

I would guess that sloshing from one end to the other would be less damaging from hydraulic hammer, given that an air pocket is trapped at each end, which would compress and lessen the impact on the ends of the tank.

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Anonymous Poster
#3

Re: Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/03/2007 11:37 PM

what you are seeing is a cylindrical covered hopper-with raised ends and flat bottoms with two or more sliding dump doors- some are also vacuum and pressure operated/rated cars for various solids.
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Anonymous Poster
#4

Re: Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/03/2007 11:48 PM

Based on the description, this image came to mind....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wienermobile-NAIAS-2005.jpg
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PWSlack
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United Kingdom - Member - Indeterminate Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

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#6
In reply to #4

Re: Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/04/2007 3:45 AM

What a wonderful thing!

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Harbinger
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 73
#5

Re: Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/04/2007 1:40 AM

I thought regular railcar tankers had plastic accordion-like liners in them that prevent rust and can expand and contract like an accordion to keep bubbles out of the liquids, reduce sloshing and leave almost nothing behind when they are emptied by compressing air around them.
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mtararat
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
#7
In reply to #5

Re: Odd shaped railway tank cars

04/04/2007 9:49 AM

no- they are shipped full at all times and return empty to avoid severe "slack action"

impacts on the railcar couplers.

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Anonymous Poster (2); Bill (1); Harbinger (1); mtararat (1); PWSlack (2)

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