Renderings
shown for representation.
General
service tank cars are used to transport a wide variety of
liquid and solid materials, both hazardous and non-hazardous.
Although they are classified as DOT-111 “nonpressure”
by the U.S. Department of Transportation, general service
tank cars are equipped with pressure relief devices that protect
against excess internal pressure as well as prevent a vacuum
from forming within the tank. The emergency conditions that
would activate a pressure relief device include exposure to
fire, hydrostatic pressure from overloading, a build-up of
pressure from exothermic reactions in the lading, and pressure
spikes caused by surging liquids during over-speed impacts.
