Anyone Familiar with the Vermont Rail System?


I don’t see any overhead way to unload those ethanol tank cars, am I just missing something? As far as I know, all tank cars are loaded and unloaded from the top now. I’m just curious. In one picture, it looks like there’s some piping on the ground, but not the overhead racks I would expect.
 
I don’t see any overhead way to unload those ethanol tank cars, am I just missing something? As far as I know, all tank cars are loaded and unloaded from the top now. I’m just curious. In one picture, it looks like there’s some piping on the ground, but not the overhead racks I would expect.
That’s a good point! Hopefully someone else can provide some input. I’d be curious to see if anyone knows if ethanol is unloaded more than one way.
 
I don’t see any overhead way to unload those ethanol tank cars, am I just missing something? As far as I know, all tank cars are loaded and unloaded from the top now. I’m just curious. In one picture, it looks like there’s some piping on the ground, but not the overhead racks I would expect.
Untrue.

Bottom operating values are entirely routine on general-service design tanks. (Gasoline, diesel, ethanol, and other oils would be shipped in such.)

Compressed gas cars (propane, chlorine, etc.) obviously would not have bottom outlets. Most acid service cars do not have bottom operating valves for safety reasons where they could be compromised in a derailment.
 
Untrue.

Bottom operating values are entirely routine on general-service design tanks. (Gasoline, diesel, ethanol, and other oils would be shipped in such.)

Compressed gas cars (propane, chlorine, etc.) obviously would not have bottom outlets. Most acid service cars do not have bottom operating valves for safety reasons where they could be compromised in a derailment.
This is great information, thanks!
 
Thanks for clearing that up about the bottom valves. That makes sense.

When the unloading rack was built for the local refinery, about 10 or 15 years ago, it was built for top unloading, and I understood that the tank cars could not be unloaded from the bottom, but that may have been the refinery’s decision, I thought it was by regulation.

That’s why I always try to say ‘as far as I know’ in my questions, I’m still learning things.
 



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