December 12, 2015
Topic: Training

Railcar Training – Photos of all the working parts.

Railcar Training

Imperial County CA – The HEAT team hosted Rail Car training with Union Pacific Railroad and HazSim as part of a day long regional training involving several agencies. A picture speaks a thousand words so below is a series of pictures with explanation by HMN contributor Jeff Zeintek, author of the HazMat Operations Field Guide. Study up and see link to quiz at bottom of page – Hint: this page will help.

Ball-valve assembly for LPG tanker.

Magnetic gauging device. This allows one to check the vapor space inside the tanker.

The magnetic gauge.

Ball that floats on product.

Dome housing on a high pressure tanker containing the liquid and vapor valves. This assembly is on top of high pressure cars that always carry hazardous materials. Liquid lines run the long axis of the tanker and vapor lines are always short side of tanker. Magnetic gauging device is in the middle.

Older style dome housing with valves inside, Rupture disc is in the middle.

U.P. states 75% of incidents for leaks inside the dome housing is a vapor or liquid line that is not properly closed. Before installing the "C" kit, check if the valves are closed. — U.P. states 75% of incidents for leaks inside the dome housing is a vapor or liquid line that is not properly closed. Before installing the “C” kit, check if the valves are closed.

Combination pressure relief

Rupture disc. Set at 165 psi. If it does rupture and release product, the bell housing keeps it from spraying.

HazMat FOG

High pressure valve.

Thermometer well. May be dry or have a antifreeze type liquid inside. Check internal temperature of tanker. Has weep holes.

Vaccuutm breaker. If this does not function properly it can take only 14 psi to have a major catastrophic tanker failure (collapse). — Vacuum breaker. If this does not function properly it can take only 14 psi to have a major catastrophic tanker failure (collapse).

Mainway for General Service Car

hazmatnation-high-pressure-rail — High Pressure Rail car – Highest pressure is 600psi, carry only HazMat, are loaded and unloaded from the top ONLY.

hazmatnation-general-service — General Service Tanker can handle up to 100 psi, have fittings and valves on the bottom, and can carry just about anything.

hazmatnation-corrosive — Corrosive Acid tanker is considered a non pressure tanker, and commonly have a red stripe but not always, they carry everything from water reactives and products heavier than water. If the PRD activates it may not re-seat and the PRD operates at 100% of tanks max operating pressure.

How well do you know your railcars? << Here is the Quiz!

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Phil Ambrose Member since February 19, 2020