General Service Tank Cars (Low-Pressure Tank Cars)
A new type of low-pressure car that is specifically designed to transport highly flammable liquids such as crude oil and ethanol is now in use. It is different from the majority of general service cars in that will always have all the top valves in a protective housing of thick steel with the only exposed top fitting being a “manway”. These new low-pressure cars are all thermally protected from fire exposure. The new designation for this car is DOT 117.

 

Two photographs of a low pressure railroad tank car. The cars are black with small yellow vertical dashes along the length. The bottom image is an illustration of the above referenced images with a front and profile view.