I would like to identify the use or purpose of this tank. This is an N scale model. It appears to have two parallel I-beams fastened to the bottom. They may have been used as skids. This is a scratchbuilt item and the builder usually had a photo or some other prototype information to work with, so I presume it represents a real tank of some type. I thought it might be storage, but I don't know what product. Why is it on the ground instead of elevated? Could it be a chemical or oil disposal? Caustic substance disposal? Tank sitting on the ground. Upside down for a better view of the "skids." Thanks for the help. I thought someone here might immediately recognize it.
I did an internet search and answered my own question. Silly me. This tank could be almost anything. There are many internet pictures and many types and sizes of these tanks on skids. Also many, many uses and sizes. It is an interesting search. I am going to attach some of the pictures I found. Thanks for your patience. Maybe this will help someone add a scenery detail.
I really like the last two. The red one would make a great eye catcher and the other two aged units would fit into an industrial site nicely. Maybe a small burn / bern / birn , (um, low wall around it / them) would add to the scene.
I work for the City of Indianapolis. We use a couple of different sizes of tanks similar to this at our smaller fueling sites for dispensing gasoline and diesel. And they do have concrete dikes built around them capable of holding 110% of the volume of the tank (in case of rupture). If I get a chance I'll take some pictures and post them.
Tanks with skids usually are used at long-term job sites where a local fuel supply is needed. Portable fuel tanks like this allow equipment to be refueled quickly on site. Then the tanks can be refilled at off-hours without interrupting the work schedule. The skids allow the tanks to be carried to job sites on tilting flatbed trucks. The beds are tilted letting the tanks to slide off into position. Then when the jobs are complete, the same truck tilts its bed and winches the tank back on, taking it to the next job site. Though, many times these tanks are lifted off and on truck beds using forklifts or backhoes.
Being on the ground they'd need some sort of pump and dispenser like in the last photo or elevated for a gravity feed. They'd make an interesting load for a MOW flatcar as a portable refueling point for work trucks, dozers etc. They could even be water storage on remote worksites and worktrain cars (depends on your era).
The portable fuel tanks I've seen at construction sites had a high-volume hand pump with an 8-10' hose at one end on top. Though I have seen tanks with an electric pump connected to a job-site generator.
