I've noticed some BNSF tank cars at the Austin Western's McNeil Yard recently, and am curious as to what sets them apart from the private-owned ones. Are they strictly for railroad use (e.g.: diesel fuel, etc.)?
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Nope, not for their use. They want in on the crude oil shipping boom. http://www.railwayage.com/inde...cars.html?channel=59
Did these cars look new? The linked Railway Age article says BNSF posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) early this year.
Seems kind of early for a custom BNSF design (they supposedly exceed industry standards for next-gen tank car design) to already be in production, given the freight-car industry's backlog, such that Chinese firms are looking for a slice of the pie.
---PCJ
There is about a two year lead time to have a new tank car built. It is highly doubtful the car noted is one of the crude oil cars BNSF announced earlier this year.
Curt
Curt
Not sure what you saw, since there was not a car number. However, BNSF does haul some of its own diesel fuel in Company tank cars. The Belen, NM, Diesel Service Area, for example, is not on a pipeline, but all trains passing through are fueled and inspected while stopped. Fuel is delivered daily in Company tank cars.
The cars do look very new, although some already have been heavily marked up with graffiti. I want to say there are six or eight there. I thought they might be for railroad use as there is a mini engine facility in the same yard. The railroad they're located on is not a Class I, but a short line, although the interchange with UP is immediately at the end of the yard. I'll see if I can't get some pictures this week.
Unfortunately, those tankers are gone now, so I wasn't able to get any pics.
