Using Penn Central Hazardous Materials Regulations in Model RR Operations

 Greetings All,

"A little more prototype"

In our recent virtual model railroad operations known as the Penn Central Car Movements the placement of a pair of tank cars loaded with diesel fuel and some other cars with dangerous loads within their trains just did not look right.

The issue was very noticeable in PCCM 87 with this LIRR diesel coupling up to two tanks cars of diesel fuel that are coupled to a pair of gondolas loaded with poles which are above the gondola sides. The last gondola will be coupled up to the LIRR caboose for their trip. I believe we can do better than this.

PC Ralph agreed and sent me this book for Christmas to read up on the Penn Central Hazardous Material Regulations. General Notice 225-F was effective May 15, 1969 and revised on January 1, 1974. The book details Hazardous Materials Regulations applying to rail freight service.

General Notice 225-F covers the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Parts170-190 and deals with eight hazard classifications that include 1. Explosives (3 classes), 2. Poisonous Articles (3 classes), 3. Flammable Liquids, 4. Flammable Solids, 5. Oxidizing Material, 6. Corrosive Liquids, 7. Compressed Gases, 8. Radioactive Material.

For today we'll concentrate on #3 Flammable Liquids, CFR 49 Part 174.589, paragraphs i and j as it pertains to placarded tank cars which we move from the Gulf Terminal in West Mill loaded with fuel on Ralph's Kings Port Division to various consignees on my New York Central Layout.

(i) When the length of the train permits the placarded loaded tank car be not closer than the sixth car from the engine, occupied caboose or occupied passenger car.

(1) When the length of the train will not permit it to be so placed it shall not be nearer than the second car from the engine, occupied caboose or occupied passenger car. 

The Terminal Yard Yardmaster stops the yard crew from coupling up to the tanks cars that contain flammable liquids.

A two car buffer between locomotive and crew is in compliance with the regulations which call for a minimum of two cars and a preferred six car buffer where possible.

(2)When transported in a freight train engaged in pick up and/or setoff service a placarded loaded tank car shall not be nearer than the second car from both engine or occupied caboose.

This was definitely a prototype violation.

(j) Separating loaded tank cars placarded "Dangerous" from other cars in trains. In a freight train or mixed train either standing or during transportation thereof, a placarded loaded tank car must not be handled next to:

(1) Occupied passenger car, other than cars occupied by gas handlers and authorized personnel accompanying shipment.

(2) Occupied combination car, other than cars occupied by gas handlers and authorized personnel accompanying shipment.

(3) Any car placarded "Explosives"

(4) Engine or occupied caboose (except when train consists only of placarded loaded tank cars).

(5) Any car placarded "Poison Gas" or "Flammable Poison Gas"

(6) Wooden underframe car (except on narrow gauge railroads).

(7) Loaded flatcar, other than specially equipped cars in trailer on flat car service or flat cars loaded with automobiles, trucks, or trailer bodies that are secured by means means of a device or devices designed and permanently installed on the flatcar for that purpose and of a type generally accepted for handling in interchange between railroads.

Good:

Not Good:

(Note: Flatcars equipped with permanently attached ends of rigid construction shall be considered as open top cars as in sub paragraph (8) of this paragraph).

(8) Open top car when any of the lading protrudes beyond the car ends or when any of the lading extending above the car ends is liable to shift so as to protrude beyond the car ends. 

Good: But with a caveat.

New York Central RR New York District, Grand Central Terminal Division and Hudson Division Timetable No.22 dated October 29, 1967 page 278 states that "Pulpwood loaded in open top equipment is not to be handled in Symbol Freight Trains. Trains containing such cars must not exceed 25 mph on tangent track and 15 mph on curves.

Not Good: 

(9) Car, trailers or truck bodies on flat cars with automatic refrigeration or heating apparatus in operation, car, trailers or truck bodies on flatcar with open-flame apparatus in service or with internal combustion engines in operation.

Not Good:

A newly learned what not to do from PCCM 85. The EL mechanical refrigeration unit is in operation delivering frozen food from Cavendish Fine Foods on the KPD. Darn! 

Going forward with the virtual operations and my own car card and waybill operations placement of placarded tank cars and dangerous loads will be monitored more closely and the use of buffer cars will be implemented as needed to protect crews, loads and the public.

Trains leaving Terminal Yard will meet the two car buffer requirement at minimum and the six car requirement whenever possible.

As with all thing pertaining to the Penn Central Car Movements one thing always leads to another and the virtual ops catalyst is alive and well in 2022. After researching the above information on placarded tank cars I found most of my gasoline and fuel oil tank cars are missing placards!

And just like that another decal project is in the works. Two sets of HAZMAT Placards from Highball Graphics have been ordered and should be here soon.

As luck would have it after all the research about how to handle loaded placarded tank cars I came across this car at my LHS on New Year's Eve! It will be added it to the virtual ops roster giving us a three car move between the KPD and NYCTL. And rest assured the car movements will be handled in a safe manner!

Special thanks to 1:1 PC Ralph for graciously allowing the use of his photos in this blog post and for the Penn Central Hazardous Materials book.

Thanks for reading!!!

See you soon!!!