Railcar and Road Trailer Identification Notes

Railcars

  • Railcars are marked with information such as:
    • DOWX 4626
    • S60 CC LE SHELF COUPLERS
    • 1-331 STL LS.
    • ABCIPAC BK.BK.
    • NK 40 DR. GR.
    • UNTY HDBK
    • 0-3 SPRING
    • 1/2 INCH H.F. SERIES.
    • LOLMT 84000 LB 38 000 G
    • 58120 LB 26 200 NG

Objectives of Railcar Section

The objectives are to:

  • Identify the top ten hazmats moved by rail.
  • Distinguish between different types of railcars:
    • Pressure car
    • Non-pressure car
    • Cryogenic liquid car
  • Identify railcar product identification markings.
  • Understand safety devices used on railcars.
  • Grasp basic railcar safety principles.
  • Understand the train consist.

Top 10 Hazmat Moved by Rail

The top 10 hazardous materials (hazmat) moved by rail, including their rank, commodity, code, DOT shipping name and DOT hazard class are:

  • Rank 1:
    • Commodity: Petroleum Gases, liquefied
    • Code: 4905752
    • DOT Hazard Class: 2.1
    • Total Tank Car Origination: 90,613
  • Rank 2:
    • Commodity: Sodium Hydroxide, solution
    • Code: 4935240
    • DOT Hazard Class: 8
  • Rank 3:
    • Commodity: Sulfuric Acid
    • Code: 4930040
    • DOT Hazard Class: 8
    • Total Tank Car Origination: 73,917
  • Rank 4:
    • Commodity: Elevated Temperature Liquid NOS
    • Code: 4961605
  • Rank 5:
    • Commodity: Ammonia, Anhydrous, liquefied
    • Code: 4904210
    • DOT Hazard Class: 2.2
    • Total Tank Car Origination: 61,501
  • Rank 6:
    • Commodity: Chlorine
    • Code: 4920523
  • Rank 7:
    • Commodity: Sulfur, molten
    • Code: 4945770
    • Total Tank Car Origination: 39,235
  • Rank 8:
    • Commodity: Vinyl Chloride, inhibited
    • Code: 4905792
    • DOT Hazard Class: 2.1
    • Total Tank Car Origination: 30.552
  • Rank 9:
    • Commodity: Sulfur
    • Code: 4917403
    • DOT Hazard Class: 4.1
    • Total Tank Car Origination: 25,232
  • Rank 10:
    • Commodity: Phosphoric Acid
    • Code: 4930247
    • DOT Hazard Class: 8
    • Total Tank Car Origination: 24.929

DOT Hazard Classes

  • 2.1: Flammable Gas
  • 4.1: Flammable Solid
  • 2.3: Poison Gas
  • 3: Flammable Liquid
  • CL: Combustible Liquid
  • 2.2: Non-Flammable Gas
  • 8: Corrosive Material
  • 9: Misc. Hazmat/ORM

HazMat Moved by Rail - Uses

  • Molten Sulfur:
    • Pulp, paper, dyes, chemical, pharmaceuticals
  • Sulfuric Acid:
    • Fertilizers, chemicals, dyes, pigments
  • Chlorine:
    • Water purification, processing meats, fish, vegetables, fruits
  • Anhydrous Ammonia:
    • Fertilizers, refrigerant, nitric acid, synthetic fibers
  • Elevated Temperature Materials:
    • Asphalt and tars
  • Methyl Alcohol:
    • Acetic acid, antifreeze, shellac, rosins
  • Phosphoric Acid:
    • Rust-proofing metal, sugar refining animal feeds and carbonated beverages
  • Fuel Oil:
    • Domestic and industrial heating, heavy engine use
  • Explosives:
    • 1. 1
  • Oxidizer:
    • 5. 1

Types of Rail Cars

  • Non-pressure tank cars
  • Pressure tank cars
  • Cryogenic liquid tank cars

Non-Pressure Rail Cars

  • Contents under pressure 35-100 psi.
  • Components:
    • Manway
    • Housing Cover
    • Safety Valve

Pressure Tank Cars

  • DOT Types: 105/112/114
  • Contain product up to 450 psi.
  • No bottom unloading valves
  • Carry compressed liquified gases, like ANHYDROUS AMMONIA
  • Components:
    • Protective Housing

Contents of Pressure Tank Cars

  • Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  • Anhydrous Ammonia
  • Vinyl Chloride Monomer

Components of Pressure Tank Cars

  • Housing
  • Gauging

Bulk Packaging - Railroad

  • Tank Car
    • Non-Pressure
    • Pressure Tank

Markings

  • DOT Specifications
  • Classes
  • Railcar Identification

Railcar Identification

  • "A" end
  • "B" end

Bulk Packaging - Railroad Tank Cars Markings

  • Reporting Marks and Car Number
  • Capacity in Gallons and Liters
  • Load Limit in Pounds and Kilograms
  • Empty Weight of Car in Pounds and Kilograms
  • Month and Year of Lightweight Date
  • DOT Car Specification Marking
  • Safety Valve Test Information
  • Water Capacity of Tank (on pressure cars) in Pounds and Kilograms

Bulk Packaging - Railroad Tank Cars Markings - Details

  • Reporting Marks & Car Number
  • Capacity in Pounds (if required)
  • Empty Weight of Car
  • Water Capacity of Tank (on Pressure Cars)
  • Placard Card Holder - 4 per Car
  • Tank Test & Safety Valve Test Information
  • Car Specification
  • Commodity Name
  • Special Permit Number

DOT Specification Markings for Railroad Tank Cars

The format is DOT 111 A 60 AL W 1. The components are:

  • Other Car Features: Fittings, Materials, Linings.
  • Type of Weld Used:
    • "W" Fusion Welding (most common)
    • "F" Forge Welding
  • Type of Material Used in Tank Construction:
    • "NO LETTER" Carbon Steel
    • "AL" Aluminum (Classes 103, 105, 109, & 11)
    • "A-AL" Aluminum Alloy
    • "N" Nickel
    • "C", "D," or "E" Stainless Steel (alloy/steel)
  • Tank Test Pressure (PSI)
  • Separator Character: Significant only for Class 105, 112, 113, 114 Tank Cars and some 111 Tank Cars when retrofitted.
    • "A" Top and bottom shelf couplers
    • "S" Tank headshields, top and bottom shelf couplers
    • "J" Jacketed thermal protection, tank headshields, top and bottom shelf couplers
    • "T" Spray-on thermal protection, tank headshields, top and bottom shelf couplers
  • Class Designation: The three-digit class designation follows the Authorizing Agency.
  • Authorizing Agency: Tank Car specifications start with three letters designating the agency under whose authority the specification was issued
    • DOT: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    • AAR: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
    • ICC: INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION (Regulatory authority assumed by DOT in 1966)
    • CTC: CANADIAN TRANSPORT COMMISSION
    • TC: TRANSPORT CANADA (replacing CTC)

Authorizing Agency

  • Tank Car specifications start with three letters designating the agency under whose authority the specification was issued
    • DOT - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    • AAR - ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
    • ICC
    • CTC
    • TC

Class Designation

  • The three-digit class designation follows the Authorizing Agency.
    • NONPRESSURE TANK CARS
      • DOT 103/AAR 201
      • DOT 104/AAR 203
      • DOT 111/AAR 206
      • DOT 115/AAR 211
    • PRESSURE TANK CARS
      • DOT 105
      • DOT 109
      • DOT 112
      • DOT 114
      • DOT 120
    • CRYOGENIC LIQUID TANK CARS
      • DOT 113/AAR 204W/AAR 204XT (Inside box car)
    • MISCELLANEOUS TANK CARS
      • DOT 106 Multi-Unit Tank Car Tanks (Ton Containers)
      • DOT 110 Multi-Unit Tank Car Tanks (Ton Containers)
      • DOT 107 High Pressure Tank Car
      • AAR 207 Pneumatically Unloaded Covered Hopper.
      • AAR 208 Wooden Tank Car

Classes of Tank Cars

  • Pressure Cars:
    • DOT 105
    • DOT 112
    • DOT 114
  • Non-Pressure
    • DOT 103
    • DOT 104
    • DOT 111
    • DOT 115
    • AAR 206
    • AAR 211

Road Trailers

  • Objectives for this section are to identify the different Road Trailers:
    • Non-pressure (MC-306/DOT406)
    • Low pressure (MC-307/DOT407)
    • Corrosives (MC-312)
    • Pressurized (MC-331)
    • Cryogenics (MC-338)
    • Bulk containers
    • Tube trailers

Tanks Profiles (ERG 2000)

  • MC306 Nonpressure Liquid Tank
  • MC307 Low Pressure Chemical Tank
  • MC-312 Corrosive Tank
  • MC-331 High Pressure Liquid Tank
  • MC-338 Cryogenic Liquid Tank
  • Compressed Gas/Tube Trailer

Identification by Motor Carrier Plate

  • Typically found on the under-frame of the trailer (near front)
  • Can identify the type of trailer, capacity and construction
  • Not content-specific

Motor Carrier Plate Example

  • THE HEIL Co.

  • MILWAUKEE, WIS., U.S.A.

  • DIV.1 HEIL CO. SERIAL NO. H-36025

  • DOT MC 312

  • DATE MFG'D

  • ORIGINAL TEST DATE 3-73

  • CERTIFICATION DATE 3-73

  • NOMINAL TANK CAPACITY BY CPTS.,

  • IN U.S. GALLONS, FRONT TO REAR

    • TOTAL 4400

  • DESIGN PRESSURE 75 PSIG

  • TEST PRESSURE 75 PSIG

  • HEAD MAT'L. SA240 316L SS 2B 3/

  • SHELL MATL SA240 316L S 2B

  • WELD MAT'L AWS E-316L

  • MAX. PRODUCT LOAD 58000 LBS.

  • LINING MAT'L

  • LOADING LIMITS-NONE-OPEN MANHOLES

  • UNLOADING LIMITS-NONE OPEN MANHOLES

  • MAX. TEMPERATURE 300 F.

  • MAX. PRODUCT DENSITY 16 LB/GAL.

  • WARRANTED UNDER CURRENT PUBLISHED WARRANT

Non Pressure Cargo Tank (DOT-406 / MC-306)

  • Non pressure tank (4 psi max.)
  • Elliptical shape
  • Contains up to 5 compartments (total capacity approx. 35,000 litres)
  • Baffles
  • Aluminum construction
  • Typically carries hydrocarbons
  • Rollover Protection on Top
  • Emergency features: emergency shut-off switch, fusible link
  • External Valving Configuration

Low Pressure Cargo Tank (MC-307/ DOT - 407)

  • Most common carrier
  • Steel construction
  • Rubber lined
  • Low pressure (25 - 44 psi)
  • May be jacketed (aluminum shell)
  • Generally bottom unloading
  • Capacity of 2,000 to 6,000 gal
  • Common products: flammable and combustible liquids, poisons, mild corrosives and food
  • Emergency shut-off and fusible links
  • Top Fittings of MC-307

Corrosives Carriers (MC-312/ DOT- 412)

  • Pressurized to 75 psi
  • Small, rounded barrel lined with rubber
  • Usually top loading and off loading
  • Often pressurized to unload
  • Stainless steel
  • Capacity; up to 6,000 gal
  • Don’t assume the presence of heavy rings is an identifying feature (may be jacketed for insulation)
  • Common products: strong corrosives or liquids with high specific gravity
  • Emergency features: emergency shut-off, fusible links

High Pressure Cargo Tank (DOT - 331)

  • Up to 500 psi
  • 5/8 “ steel
  • pressure relief valve on top
  • visibly rounded ends
  • gauges: volume pressure temperature
  • Common products are compressed liquified gases: LPG, propane, chlorine, ammonia
  • Typically a capacity of up to 11, 000 gallons
  • Rear cabinet controls for loading and off-loading

Cryogenic Cargo Tank (MC - 338)

  • Round shape
  • Insulated tank with vacuum between shells (thermos on wheels)
  • Transports nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen
  • Vents while moving: release of vapour is normal
  • Operating pressure: 22 psi
  • Capacity: 6,000 gal
  • Extremely cold liquids
  • Rear cabinet controls

Compressed Gas/ Tube Trailers

  • High pressure gas (up to 5000 psi)
  • Seamless steel cylinder
  • Not liquified
  • Multiple tanks
  • Control valves located in one compartment at rear
  • Capacity:1,500 cubic feet/ cylinder
  • Emergency controls: pressure relief valve, bleed off valves
  • Gases: hydrogen, helium, compressed air

Dry Bulk Cargo Tanker

  • Aluminum shell
  • Usually hopper type style
  • 1,000 to 2,500 cubic feet capacity
  • Non-pressurized
  • Common producs: wide variety of solid chemicals, plastics, fertilizers, cement, grevel

Emergency Controls on Cargo Tankers

  • Internal safety valves
  • Remote Emergency shut-offs
  • Automatic shut off devices i.e. fusible type links
  • Internal safety valves inside tank must be held open to unload may be air, hydraulic or cable activated

Emergency Valve Remote Shut-Offs

  • Emergency Shut Off
  • Automatic Shut offs designed to fail when area of the vehicle is on fire fusible link, plastic air line, or copper line which fail under fire conditions

Intermodal Tank Containers

  • Used more frequently due to low cost and benefit of multi-modal system
  • Carry a wide variety of hazardous materials
  • Non pressure intermodal tank containers (IM0 101 and IMO 102) pressure intermodal tank containers (SPEC -51)
  • Box or Beam Frame
  • Average Capacity is 24,000 Litres

IM -101/ 102 Intermodal - Non- Pressure

  • Most common (90% of all used)
  • Solids or liquids up to 100 psi
  • 5,000 to 6,000 gal
  • Common products: poisons, corrosives, flammable liquids
  • Similar to IM101 tank, lower pressure (14-25 psi

Pressure Intermodal - Spec 51

  • Pressurized from 100 -500 psi
  • Capacity: up to 5,500 gal
  • Transports liquefied gases

Bulk Packaging - Intermodal Markings

  • CAPACITY 6600 US GALLONS
  • 25,000 LITRES

Intermodal Identification Codes

  • Refer to Page 20 of the ERG 2000 for markings
  • Top half displays “hazard identification number” (i.e. 33 = Highly Flammable Liquid
  • Bottom number displays the 4 digit UN #

Bulk Packaging – Intermodal

  • Portable Tank
    • TIR
    • Box frame
    • Beam frame
  • Non-Pressure
  • Pressure Tank