4 Interesting Facts About Rail Tank Cars

Rail tank cars are an important part of transporting liquid and gaseous materials across the United States. Although they’re not always at the forefront of everyone’s minds, rail tank cars play an essential role in our economy and everyday life. If you want to learn more about this fascinating form of transportation, read on!

They Were Invented Over 100 Years Ago

The first rail tank car was invented in 1866 by a man named J. Forbes Watson. His invention revolutionized the transportation industry and allowed liquids to be transported much more easily and safely than ever before. Today, nearly every liquid product we use has been transported in a rail tank car at some point during its journey from production to market.

They Come in Different Sizes

Rail tank cars come in different sizes depending on the type of material being transported and how much needs to be shipped at once. The most common types are general service, pressure differential service, non-insulated service, and insulated service cars, with capacities ranging from 11,500-30,000 gallons per car.

They Have to Meet Safety Standards

All rail tank cars have to meet safety requirements set forth by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). These standards cover everything from construction materials used to build the tanks to maximum operating pressures for shipping hazardous materials like crude oil or gasoline. Additionally, all rail tank cars must pass regular inspections in order to remain compliant with these safety regulations. They are maintained by specially trained individuals and a tank car fitting product supplier.

They Are Becoming More Environmentally Friendly

In recent years, there has been a push towards making rail tank cars more environmentally friendly in order to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize environmental pollution caused by fuel spills or leaks during transportation. Companies are now developing new technologies that will allow them to better monitor their tanks in real-time so they can detect any potential issues before they become serious problems. Additionally, many companies are investing in renewable energy sources like solar or wind power for their operations which helps reduce emissions even further.

Rail tank cars are an integral part of our transportation infrastructure that has been around for over 150 years! Although they may not be as flashy or visible as other forms of transport, such as planes or trucks, they continue to play an important role in our daily lives by helping get products from production plants to market quickly and safely without harming the environment along the way! Whether you work directly with them or just appreciate their importance from afar, it's always interesting learning about all that goes into keeping these amazing machines running efficiently day after day.