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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 9 (January 1, 1928)

Protection of Petrol Tank Wagons

page 39

Protection of Petrol Tank Wagons.

The provision of up-to-date appliances at main shipping ports for the acceptance of petrol and motor spirits in bulk from oil tankers has revolutionised the methods of local delivery and rail transportation of this class of traffic. It has brought, also, new responsibilities to the Railways, and the following general advice regarding the handling of this traffic is published in the interests of safe working.

The special class “Uc” railway tank wagons now in use are constructed with a view to minimising the risks necessarily attendant on the carriage of any dangerous or combustible goods and ordinarily they provide a sufficient degree of safety. In certain circumstances, however, as in the case of leaky or defective wagons, it is of vital importance that each member of the state should be conversant with the special regulations which have been drafted in connection with the introduction of the new type of wagon.

Group at Christchurch Transport Office. Front Row (left to right)—Messrs S. Simpson, W. E. McKay (O.I.G), and D. A. Watson. Back Row—Messrs P. C. Fitzgerald, R. V. Fredric, D. J. Mackintosh, and T. S. Jackson.

Group at Christchurch Transport Office.
Front Row (left to right)—Messrs S. Simpson, W. E. McKay (O.I.G), and D. A. Watson.
Back Row—Messrs P. C. Fitzgerald, R. V. Fredric, D. J. Mackintosh, and T. S. Jackson.

It is important to remember that the tank wagons are equally dangerous, whether loaded or empty, and the same degree of care in handling is necessary in either case. The wagons should be run as nearly as possible in the middle of trains; in the case of mixed trains they require to be separated from the engine by at least three vehicles, and from carriages by five vehicles.

Tank wagons need special care during shunting operations, particular attention being paid to clearances, and anything in the nature of rough shunting is to be avoided. Hot axle boxes require to be carefully watched for, and attended to, at the earliest possible moment.

The filling and emptying of the wagons may only be carried out in daylight—during such operations, engines or naked lights must not be brought within fifty feet of the wagons.

The vapour given off by petrol or motor spirits is a heavy, inflammable gas, and when mixed with air under certain conditions forms a high explosive. It is possible, particularly in calm weather and sheltered positions, for this vapour to gather and remain for some time as a concentrated layer or “pocket” in the atmosphere. Even the slightest leak of vapour from either an empty or a full tank wagon spells danger. If there is any smell of vapour fumes in the proximity of tank wagons immediate steps should be taken to ensure that no light or flame is permitted to approach it. A trail of petrol will, if ignited; carry fire to the origin of the leak—the wagon itself. In such cases an effective means of staying the progress of the fiery trail is to cover sections of the liquid with earth or sand. Petrol-fed fires cannot be quenched by water, but may be extinguished by beating with wet sacks or by throwing sand on the blaze with a fanning motion. Small fires on or about tank wagons are not necessarily an immediate source of danger, and it would be quite safe to approach such fires and endeavour to extinguish them.

Should a petrol wagon be damaged in such a way as to cause a bad leakage, steps should immediately be taken to localise the spread of the fluid by either damning it as it collects and covering with earth or sand, or by digging holes into which it will flow. Care should be taken to avoid allowing the escaping fluid to drain into sewers or streams, as the vapours may thus be carried to distant parts and there ignited.

The ordinary hand signal lamp carries an open flame and should therefore not be used in the vicinity of any leakage of petrol or vapour; when the provision of a light is necessary, an electric torch or safety lamp should be used.

“When tank wagons are found to be leaking, or are damaged in such manner that they may be considered dangerous, the nearest official of the oil company owning the wagon should be communicated with; where possible, his expert assistance or advice should be obtained in dealing with the situation. In all such cases, steps require to be taken to prevent the approach of onlookers.