B&SR #34 flat car - Official Work Thread

[Mike Fox]

This tank is the large one, originally on car 21. When that car was no longer strong enough, it was scrapped and the tank put on Flat 14. Car 22 had the smaller tank up until it's time at Edaville, when car 22 suffered the same issue as 21. The smaller tank was in better shape so the large tank was removed from car 14 and the smaller tank put on car 14. As it is today. Enough to make it tough to keep track??

[Wayne Laepple]

So if the plan is to use the tank car for fire protection, and it's a 5,000-gallon tank, that means the car would have to be capable of supporting 40,000 pounds of water. That's 20 tons! That's a lot of weight on a wooden car just sitting around waiting.

[Mike Fox]

I meant to dig up the info on the car, but IF I remember, the tank we have is only 3000 gallon.

[Bill Baskerville]

Wayne brings up a good point.  Even if we have the 3,000 gal tank, that is 24,000 pounds or 12 tons.  I seem to remember someone saying that the plan was to put a smaller plastic tank inside the existing tank so the capacity would be more manageable and internal corrosion wouldn't be a problem.

Of course if we go with the internal tank plastic spray idea, we don't have to fill the tank either.

[Mike Fox]

Nothing says that you have to fill the tank, either, except a full tank will prevent any harmonic rock that a half full tank will produce.

[Wayne Laepple]

The interior baffles are supposed to reduce the sloshing, but in my experience, there is still a certain amount of surging of whatever is inside the tank. On one railroad I worked on, we handled tank cars of cooking oils, and at the place where we would set out the loads, when we stopped, we had to set the air brakes before uncoupling, or the sloshing would move the cars enough to recouple them. In fact, even while under way, the surging would occasionally give you a kick in the pants.

While I think keeping water in the car for fire protection is a good idea, the water would have to be treated with some sort of biocide to prevent the growth of algae which could clog the outlet and/or any pump. And the car should be parked somewhere accessible without having to switch out other equipment before taking it to where it is needed most.

[Bill Baskerville]

Nothing says that you have to fill the tank, either, except a full tank will prevent any harmonic rock that a half full tank will produce.

The interior baffles are supposed to reduce the sloshing, but in my experience, there is still a certain amount of surging of whatever is inside the tank.... 
... And the car should be parked somewhere accessible without having to switch out other equipment before taking it to where it is needed most.

Tanks guys for the information on sloshing.  I had forgotten about that issue in thanks.

I thought the plan was to park the tank car at the end of the runaround siding at TOM so it would be a water source located the furthermost from any road accessibility and not routinely blocked like so many of our other car parking spots.

[John Kokas]

Well, if and when we have an operable sawmill and shingle mill, (steam powered hopefully), the tank car would be invaluable in providing water for the mill boiler and also for fire protection.

[Kevin Kierstead]

Would it be possible to add trailer jack setup to take standing weight load off car while parked on siding?

[Joe Fox]

Coming from someone who handles many types of tanks, baffles help, however sloshing can be very violent when stopping. Especially when handling many tanks at a time. The sloshing typically settles out after 4-5 slams.

The plan is to reduce the tank capacity to keep the weight of the water the same as the weight of the oil, and fill the tank to the top to reduce sloshing.

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

The plan is to reduce the tank capacity to keep the weight of the water the same as the weight of the oil, and fill the tank to the top to reduce sloshing.

Is the plan internal bulkheads on each end? I would think we would want the filler material on the ends or the top to keep the center of gravity low. Depending on the access with the baffles some inflatables might be easily done.
And I still think a Heavy coat of fiberglass inside over internal patchs, would work, Farm sprayer tanks are  made of 1/4 inch fiberglass with no outside support.
Mike Nix

[Bill Baskerville]

The plan is to reduce the tank capacity to keep the weight of the water the same as the weight of the oil, and fill the tank to the top to reduce sloshing.

So at 6.4 pounds per gallon of oil that is about 19,200 pounds (9.6 tons) for a 3,000 Gal tank to 32,000 pounds  (16 tons)
for a 5,000 Gal tank, depending on what size tank we have.  About the weight Number 11 will work out to be I suspect.

[Steve Smith]

Bill, according to the McChesney & Kohler Volume 5 of Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley, No. 7's locomotive weight (light) was 28 tons, and so far as I know, No. 11 is to be replica of No. 7.

[Bill Baskerville]

Thanks Steve, good thing we are now using 56 and 60 pound rail.

[Brendan Barry]

Car 34 was picked up this morning and brought back to Sheepscot.





No. 34 was built by the B&SR shops and the castings on the car including the couplers are marked B&SR.