31,000 Gallon Tank Car

Prototype Information

TrinityRail started building thousands of 31,000-gallon tank cars with head shields in 2012. This production met the growing needs of the oil industry. The unique trapezoid-shaped end shields make these cars easy to identify. Unit trains often exceed 100 cars in length. These trains deliver crude oil from North Dakota and Wyoming to refineries across North America.

Changing market demands shifted the use of these cars recently. They now commonly transport ethanol, gasoline, and petroleum distillates. Many units also appear in general mixed freight trains rather than dedicated unit trains. Their versatile design allows them to carry various liquid commodities safely across the rail network.