Strange water tankcar vent

[up1950s]

[central.vermont]

Must be for steam heat in those cold Canadian winters
or maybe it's some unusual CN Van!!!! ;D ;D

[3rdrail]

If it's a water tankcar, I'll bet there's some sort of heater to keep the car's contents from freezing in Winter. The heater would need venting. Just a s.w.a.g. though.

[cv_acr]

Here's a couple similar cars:

http://algomacentral.railfan.net/images/AlgoCenRy/AC_10656_Steelton_8-1-1992.jpg
http://algomacentral.railfan.net/images/AlgoCenRy/AC_10658_Steelton_8-1-1992.jpg

Note the lettering on the end:
"WATER MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO
FREEZE in this TANK ALWAYS DRAIN
when NOT IN USE"

The opposite end from the vent stack on each of the three cars has a boxy piece of equipment which must contain the heater, and the outside of the two AC tanks appears to be covered in an extra layer of spray-on insulation. All of the cars shown are of course work train cars, supplying water to bunk cars.

Of course, other water tank cars aren't equipped with similar heaters:
http://algomacentral.railfan.net/images/AlgoCenRy/AC_10655_Steelton_8-1-1992.jpg
http://freight.railfan.ca/cn/cn80366.jpg
http://freight.railfan.ca/cn/cn80370_2.jpg
http://freight.railfan.ca/cn/cn80370detail2.jpg
http://freight.railfan.ca/cn/cn80383.jpg

[up1950s]

I don't know how folks can live north of NYC , with all those cold temps and special care needed , but then folks south of me probable think the same of anybody north of them .

[3rdrail]

I don't know how folks can live north of NYC , with all those cold temps and special care needed , but then folks south of me probable think the same of anybody north of them .

You "ain't just whistlin' Dixie", Richie. I originally came down here to take over the traffic department of the Apalachicola Northern in 1981, retired in 1999, and free housing couldn't get me back North again. 

[up1950s]

I don't know how folks can live north of NYC , with all those cold temps and special care needed , but then folks south of me probable think the same of anybody north of them .

You "ain't just whistlin' Dixie", Richie. I originally came down here to take over the traffic department of the Apalachicola Northern in 1981, retired in 1999, and free housing couldn't get me back North again. 

" Whistlin' Dixie " , ha ha , I read your post , then went to desk top , then it dawned on me of the intended southern warmer reference . Thanks for the laugh . ;D