rgortowski@a... wrote:
> Leo,
>
> I find your answer interesting, as all the steel and aluminum tanks we
> produce for hauling asphalt (truck tanks) require surge plates, bolsters, and
> external rings for each tank. Perhaps the gauge of the railroad tank steel
> is thicker? (we use 10 gauge grade 50 tank steel). With this gauge, the
> barrel is not strong enough to support itself without the surge plates
> (completely welded internally) in addition to the heads. Our tanks are 8,000
> to 13,000 gallons. We are just building a 13,000 gallon chemical tank
> (without external rings) that requires 11 surge plates and a bulkhead.
> Perhaps it has something to do with the need for quicker stopping with a
> truck tank.
>
> I was talking to one of the old drivers and he said that if the tanks were
> completely topped off that the "surge" wasn't so great. If they were not
> topped off, the surge would rebound back and forth and could actually move
> the truck forward.
>
> Next time I see a model layout operator going too fast while spotting a tank
> car, I will yell at him!
>
> Rich
>
> Rich and Leo
Grain will also surge. Just look along the roads near harvest time.sjh
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