Crude
Sep 13, 2019 11:08:57 #
Five years ago I took these photos of one of the crude oil trains that come through our town on a regular basis.
I didn't count these cars, all looking the same.
This "buffer car" at end was my reason for waiting through all those same-looking cars.
Sep 13, 2019 12:22:03 #
Sep 13, 2019 14:53:51 #
rehess wrote:
Five years ago I took these photos of one of the crude oil trains that come through our town on a regular basis.
Is the buffer car the red hopper car? Why is it called a buffer? What is it's purpose?
Thank you.
Sep 13, 2019 14:58:55 #
JD750 wrote:
Is the buffer car the red hopper car? Why is it called a buffer? What is it's purpose?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yes the old reddish covered hopper car is the "buffer" car. I know its "identity" only because of tiny lettering stenciled on its side; I believe its purpose is to protect the tank cars from a rear-end collision .... apparently they have scrapped all their cabooses. I have noticed an old covered hopper car attached to the end of every crude oil train through here.
Sep 13, 2019 15:01:22 #
rehess wrote:
Yes the old reddish covered hopper car is the "buffer" car. I know its "identity" only because of tiny lettering stenciled on its side; I believe its purpose is to protect the tank cars from a rear-end collision .... apparently they have scrapped all their cabooses. I have noticed an old covered hopper car attached to the end of every crude oil train through here.
Interesting. Thank you for the reply.
Sep 13, 2019 21:54:34 #
I am surprised that they only had 1 buffer car on the tail. How many were between the locomotives and the lead tank car?
Sep 14, 2019 00:17:10 #
jethro779 wrote:
I am surprised that they only had 1 buffer car on the tail. How many were between the locomotives and the lead tank car?
I'll have to count cars some time. The trains are several locomotives, lots and lots of tank cars, one buffer car.
Sep 14, 2019 06:47:27 #
rehess wrote:
Five years ago I took these photos of one of the crude oil trains that come through our town on a regular basis.
Sep 14, 2019 08:47:43 #
@rehess; On most UP manifests I see here in the Tucson area they have either 4 or 5 buffer cars between the locomotives and the crude, LPG, acid, and other cars in the train. According to the HAZ MAT instruction manual there should be 5 buffer cars between the locomotives and the first placarded railcar. The same held true when cabooses were occupied by the conductor and brakeman in the days of a caboose as end of train there were to be 5 buffer cars between the last placarded car.
Of course when I hauled hazardous material in a Semi we did not have the buffer protection.
Of course when I hauled hazardous material in a Semi we did not have the buffer protection.
Sep 14, 2019 08:50:23 #
jethro779 wrote:
@rehess; On most UP manifests I see here in the Tu... (show quote)
I wonder if crude oil follows different rules?
But crude oil is certainly hazardous if they have an accident - they have 'totalled' small towns.
I guess I've made a new assignment for myself.
I took these photos at the edge of a city park.
Even seeing trains is difficult because it is a "no-horn" district, but I guess I need to go back and take photos of the front of one of these trains, then count the cars.
Sep 14, 2019 08:58:23 #
As I understand the rules for Hazardous Materials The buffer car placement has been in effect since 1970. The hazardous materials handbook lists any placarded unit in a consist in a hazard class and that requires a buffer car placement.
Sep 14, 2019 09:05:40 #
bpulv
Loc: Buena Park, CA
I didn't know about this. I will have to look for buffer cars on my next railroad shoot.
Sep 14, 2019 20:26:33 #
Sep 14, 2019 23:43:22 #
We get occasional oil trains through Harrisburg, NC and they usually have a buffer car on the front and back. They may be empty though. I will have to pay more attention next time I see one.
Sep 16, 2019 00:22:31 #
captxmas
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
WOW! No graffitti on the tank cars......Not the west coast for sure.
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