DRAG TO ROTATE
While most tank cars carry crude oil, tank cars can also carry liquid and gaseous agricultural products. Corn syrup and seed oils are examples of agricultural products carried by tank cars.
Typical tank capacities start at 10,000 gallons for high density liquids and range up to 30,000 gallons for liquids having densities of around 6.5 pounds per gallon - lighter than water.
Many tank cars have a downbuckle, or bend, in the center to help the fluid funnel downward for bottom unloading.
Tank cars can carry liquid and gaseous products. Corn syrup and seed oils are examples of agricultural products carried by tank cars.
Typical tank capacities start at 10,000 gallons for high density liquids and range up to 30,000 gallons for liquids having densities of around 6.5 pounds per gallon - lighter than water.
Many tank cars have a downbuckle, or bend, in the center to help the fluid funnel downward for bottom unloading.
Here's just a sampling of agricultural products BNSF ships, using boxcars, hoppers and tank cars:
Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is one product BNSF carries in tank cars. It's made by distilling sugars from corn and is used as an auto fuel additive. Most vehicles sold in the United States can run on gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol. BNSF transports more than 370 million gallons each year.
BNSF was the first railroad to take a proactive role in getting ethanol to the market disefficiently when it created its "Ethanol Express," a 96-car unit train that can carry almost 3 million gallons of ethanol.
