17,360 Gallon Tank Car

Prototype Information

American Car and Foundry (ACF) introduced the 17,360-gallon tank car in the 1960s to transport pressurized and hazardous liquids. Designed primarily for chlorine service, these cars featured all-welded steel construction and heavy insulation to maintain stable temperatures. ACF built them using a “stub-sill” design, which eliminated the traditional full-length underframe to reduce weight and increase payload capacity. To protect against the highly corrosive nature of caustic chemicals, many units featured internal liners made of woven glass or ceramic.

These cars became staples for major chemical and industrial shippers like Dow, DuPont, Olin, and Kaiser Chemicals. Their capacity balanced volume with weight restrictions, allowing them to traverse a wide variety of rail lines. While newer, larger tank cars eventually entered the market, the 17,360-gallon design remained in service for decades due to its reliability. Many units underwent rebuilding or reassignment to different commodities, solidifying their role as a ubiquitous sight in North American freight consists well into the 21st century.