When did Tank Car inspection tables start?

[learmoia]

Hopefully a simple question:


I'm trying to date my tank car fleet.. Does anyone know the time line on these tables?

Edit.. obviously the dates are on the table on the models, but in N scale you need a jeweler's loop to read it.. so if the tables existed in the time frame, I'm not going to worry about the actual dates..

Thanks ~Ian

[lajmdlr]

Since you're not going to be wearing a jeweler's loop during your N scale Ops why worry about it. LOL

[Kisatchie]

I'd like to know when too. I'm modeling 1971, but I think I have a few tank cars with the tables too. Wonder if I'll have to remove them.


Hmm... with a Brillo
pad...?

[learmoia]

Since you're not going to be wearing a jeweler's loop during your N scale Ops why worry about it. LOL

I can see the table.. I just can't see the dates.. so if the table isn't supposed to be there because it didn't exist yet, then it's an issue.. If it was used then I don't care what the dates are.

I have a facility that needs tons of tanks for one customer (Hooker/Occidental), and I have some with tables, and I'm not sure if I can use them or not. ~Ian

[John]

I don't know . but why not go to rrpicturearchives, and check UTLX tank cars .. you should be able to find both with / without .. and the pics have dates .. might be a start .. and a fun way to research

[John]

this might help

http://www.mcor-nmra.org/Publications/Articles/Tank%20Cars%20101%20for%20Model%20Railroaders.pdf

[Missaberoad]

The February 1990 MR has an article on "Modern" tank cars, and there is no mention of this lettering. I believe but cannot confirm that it first appeared in the early 1990's.

Interesting side note the same article profiles the now infamous DOT-111 cars, an interesting read if you have the issue... 

[Denver Road Doug]

I've always been under the understanding that it was around the year 2000 that they became common practice.   This is basically the year I model so that's why it always stuck with me.   However, just searched and an old Atlas post by Tim Frederick says: "Roughly, the first use of spreadsheets on repainted tank cars and new built tank cars was in the fall of 1997."   I guess to some that would be "around the year 2000" while others want more specifics but that should give you a pretty good idea.

[nkalanaga]

Kiz:  I know they weren't in use in 1971, because they weren't there in 1974.

Dee:  I wonder if a "scale size" Brillo pad would work for removing lettering without damaging the pain?  I wouldn't know where to find steel wool that fine, but it sounds like an interesting idea.

[sirenwerks]

The February 1990 MR has an article on "Modern" tank cars, and there is no mention of this lettering. I believe but cannot confirm that it first appeared in the early 1990's.

Check out the last pic in the article that John posted a link to.  It's dated 1987 and is of what looks to be like a brand spankin' new ADM car, and it has the table.  I'd do what John says and start at 1987 in the date of pics of UTLX cars and start going back in time, and focus on the new or freshly shopped cars.

[Missaberoad]

Check out the last pic in the article that John posted a link to.  It's dated 1987 and is of what looks to be like a brand spankin' new ADM car, and it has the table.  I'd do what John says and start at 1987 in the date of pics of UTLX cars and start going back in time, and focus on the new or freshly shopped cars.

The leaf logo wasn't introduced until the 2000s...  I believe the un1987 is the iso placard number not the date of the photo...

[Bob Bufkin]

I have another question.  When did the hazardous material placards come into use?

[nkalanaga]

The ones with just the UN number I have no idea.  Generally similar placards with words, such as "FLAMMABLE", go back at least to the 50's, and probably further than that.

I have two "Emergency Response" books, given to me by a truck driver.  The older one, from 1977, came from the AAR, and lists chemicals by their hazard class, with no mention of a UN number.  The placards in the back are  the old style with the hazard class spelled out.

The newer one, dated 1996, gives only the UN numbers, and assumes that that number is either on the placard or stenciled near the placard. 

So, the UN numbers had to come into common use between 1977 and 1996, which is still a wide gap, but does narrow it some.

[cv_acr]

The leaf logo wasn't introduced until the 2000s...  I believe the un1987 is the iso placard number not the date of the photo...

Yeah, that's what the photo caption indicates: "placarded UN 1987". There are no photo dates provided throughout that article link.