Freight Car Spotlight #1-2022 / Walthers Gulf Tank Car

 Greetings All,

Freight Car Spotlight #1-2022

Welcome to the first post in the freight car spotlight series. These posts will focus on models used on the layout and include prototype info if applicable. 

Today we'll take a look at the Walthers Trainline 40' Gulf Tank Car #931-1612. These cars were part of my prior HazMat Regulations blog post. 

The Model

The Gulf tank car data is clearly legible with my reading glasses. It has a 100,000 pound capacity, a light weight of 43,200 pounds features metal wheels and body mounted knuckle couplers The reporting marks for the car are WRMX 14285, build date of 3-50.

The car does not come with HazMat placards and I'll be adding Highball Graphics 1993 placards, Class 3 Flammable Fuel Oil, from HazMat decals set AD-13

The new Gulf tank car and two others used in the Penn Central Car Movements virtual operations have their Class 3 1993 placard decals applied. An overspray Testor's Dullcote was used to protect the decals and dull the cars bright finish. All cars received Kadee #5 couplers and had their wheel faces painted flat black. 

The three Gulf tank cars make a nice looking block for movements in the virtual ops. Using prototype tank car photos each car received four placards, one on each end and one on each side. 

The Gulf tank cars loaded with Diesel Fuel Oil for the Long Island RR Morris Park engine terminal are properly placed within this test train that simulates a transfer run from Terminal Yard to North Side Yard in Empire City for interchange with the LIRR.

Additional Comments

Out of the box the tank cars are very lightly weighted. Adding additional weight would be preferable but taking the model apart to do so looks daunting as it is glued together.

Prototype Information

WRMX reporting marks are unassigned. RR picture archives reports an idler car to have them but it is not visible. Interestingly WRNX belong to the Gulf Oil Company and Chevron USA Inc which purchased Gulf in 1984.  

A google search for Gulf Tank Car revealed this old photo of a Gulf tank car that is close to the model.

Couplers

Type E or F? Since I am using the cars in the late 1960s and very early 1970s operations I think the type E coupler, like the Kadee #5s are OK. This is close call as it appears the Type F couplers became mandatory in 1975. Modelers running more modern operations may choose the now mandatory Type F couplers like the Kadee #119 used on tank cars.

Final thoughts

The Gulf tank car model is very close to the old photo of the Gulf tank car in the link above. The reporting marks may or may not have been assigned to Gulf Oil. All in all I find it to be a good looking model that works very well in our prototypical operations.

Thanks for reading!!!

See you soon!!!