Anyone got a guess what this little tank car carried? Hint: Note the wooden box car still has the ladder up to a Cat Walk where the brake wheel is. Time line is not today. [ 13 May 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
No guess, Watash. It's stencilled "For Company Lube Oil Service Only" right on the side of the tank! Most railroad-owned tank cars were in company service.
Gregg, that's what I thought it was too, at first. The stencilling isn't for lube oil, I was surprised. There are many more liquids than I emagined that were transported by tank car even back then. Note the wooden chocks and little bands holding the tank to its center beam. Those are old sleeve bearing trucks too.
I would guess Liquid nitrogen, but I don't think so(I just got a dry ice car, circa 1919). Otherwise, water, veggie oil, vinegar, oil, chemical of some sort. I don't think it would be solid, because of the boxcar behind it(and most things in those days was bulked up in bags). Maybe ball bearings, metal filings, acid for the mine fields, pickles, Nitro glicerin , liquid nails , glue, beer, ale, mash, gasoline, petroleum, WATER, Coca Cola, Syrup, juice, mud, or pea soup. I am not sure. [ 23 April 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]
You are getting warm Benny! I would have never guessed it. Remember it is an old rivetted tank and center beam type car with light duty trucks. The brake wheel is mounted on the far end, (you can just barely see the top of it between the Tanker and Old Box car. The Box car has the brake wheel on top with long shaft running down to wind up the chain that pulls the brake shoes. The tanker was made before WWII and this photo was taken in 1945, so that will date some of the liquids that existed in those days.
I think I know what it is but I don't want to spoil it. I will keep thinking on this one. I love these ancient treasures!!! Great for pondering. It would be funny/erie/scary to see a tank car of this size filled with Nitro Glyrein. [ 23 April 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]
well that tanker looks to be a shorter one than usual so I'm gonna go with Molassas?? or maybe diesel?? Hmmm.
The little tanker is a 30 footer, and is in original paint, (any color you want, so long as it is Black! Henry Ford). Its the rivits guys, all tanks today are welded, but a couple of you are getting close. You wouldn't believe how much of this stuff is used.
Watash, if it doesn't say "Company Lube" is says "Cotton Seed" just before the word Oil. As a matter of fact it sure looks like 2 "T's" in the 2nd word!
BINGO Gregg! I tried every word I could think of, then finally got my jeweler's lupe to read it. It says: "For Cotton Seed Oil Service Only" Pop Corn, eggs and a lot of things were cooked in it until peanut oil became popular. Thanks, this was a fun photo! I appreciate everyone who posted! Since you won Gregg, if you will e-mail me your snail mail address, I'll mail you the glossy photo so you can make a model of it. Thanks all! Anyone else got an oddity car?
Watash, why don't you send the photo to InterMountain to use on their 8,000 gal tank car. That way those of us in N, HO, and O can enjoy the car? The "tank car" I am planning to build is a chlorine tank car of the type used in the 1950's with 15 30 inch tanks mounted on a flat car. This is from a "Dollar Car" project from MR in 1953. It's interesting how far model building has progressed since then. The article states "brake rigging can be added if desired" - the model did not even have the brake cylinder, air reservior and "triple" valve modeled! If you are interested in me, see my website at http://www.gtcom.net/~mahlkov web page
I was THAT close to saying cotton!!! But I kept getting stuck on the fabric/fiber, and on the seed, I didnot think about this. good one. One the chlorine car: Yes, we have come along way. Just think: A Dollar Car!!! Any more they cost ten!!! [ 24 April 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]
I sorted out cotton but thought the second word was wood and cotton wood oil just didn't make any sense. Thanks watash that was fun
I took a picture of an old tanker with a bunch of stuff on top. I have no idea what it contained. I will be getting the film developed Thursday and will E mail it to watash Thursday Evening if it is ok with him. Maybe he can figure out what it is.
Gregg, e-mail me an postal address and I'll send the glossy to them, or to you, or would you rather I e-mail you the scan of it? me know. Thanks again for playing the game so well! Maybe you can help our new mamber Sir Prise who also lives in Florida? Dick, I'll send you an address off line. OK?
Watash, that car goes way back and you and I know it probably carried bootleg liquor during prohibition. Just kidding. It's only a single dome. Have you got a photo of a three or four dome one about that age? We need that for a logo in "The Tank".
If I have a multi-dome, it would be in one of the old books I have packed away. I would have no way to get permission to post it here. There are some on one of the photo sites, but they cost $$ to buy a copy that you could post, after you snail mailed a request for permission. Sorry.
Watash, Intermountain is at P. O. Box 839, Longmont, CO 80502-0839. Just looked it up on thier website!
Telegrapher wants to know what do you think this tank car carried? (Posted for Telegrapher) [ 03 May 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
