MTH RailKing O 30-73613 Tank Car, Hooker Chemicals #44057

The tank car was relatively uncommon until the 1870s, when the nascent petroleum industry ordered large quantities of metal tanks carried on wooden car bodies. By the early 1900s, a standard design had evolved that lasted throughout the steam and early diesel eras: an 8,000-11,000 gallon metal tank perched on a metal flatcar-like underframe.

The one big change during that time was the transition from riveted to welded construction beginning in the late 1930s. Car builders introduced X-ray inspection of welds to ensure safety, as well as giant annealing ovens that could heat-treat assembled tanks to relieve joint stress. Welded tanks were stronger, less susceptible to rust and corrosion, and less likely to rupture in the event of a wreck.

Our model represents a typical all-welded, insulated tank car built in the late 1940s or 1950s. A layer of insulation protected cargos that were sensitive to temperature extremes, and some such cars also had heating coils under their outer layer. Our model also features a safety platform around the dome – insulation and safety platforms being features commonly found on cars used in the chemical industry.

FEATURES:
Intricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body
Die-Cast Metal Chassis
Metal Wheels and Axles
Die-Cast 4-Wheel Trucks
Operating Die-Cast Metal Couplers
Decorative Brake Wheels
Separate Metal Handrails
Fast-Angle Wheel Sets
Needle-Point Axles
Unit Measures: 10 3/8″ x 2 3/8″ 3 13/16″
Operates On O-27 Curves