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.

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