Crude oil would most likely come in via pipeline (some refineries may receive trainloads of crude (eg. SP's "oil cans" unit trains)). They are also often located on a navigable river or lake, and ship a lot by water (tanker vessels).

Products like gasoline, diesel, asphalt are shipped in general service non-pressurized tank cars (like Atlas's 20K GATC and 25K ACF tanks, and Athearn's 25K RTC).

Liquified petroleum gas (LPG - propane, butane etc.) is shipped in large 30-33K pressurized tank cars.

Sulphur is a common byproduct, especially from so-called "sour" crude ("sweet" crude has low sulphur content, "sour" crude has a high sulphur content). This is shipped out in tank cars in molten form. Walther's 16K tank car is a good stand in for a lot of sulphur tank cars and comes decorated in several sulphur schemes.

Note that it would also be possible to have a packaging plant for bottled or barrelled products like motor and lube oils. This could ship by truck and/or boxcar.

It might also received plastic pellets, unless the refinery also produces chemical products like plastics.

Gasoline additives would also be received at refineries via tank car. Today that might include ethanol, which is blended into some companies' gasoline. There's also a nice photo of a Dupont Canada (DOCX) tank car for Anti-Knock Compound in the Canadian Railways Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment Vol 1 (published by Morning Sun books)

Those are just the guidelines I was looking for.  Maybe I'll restencil the ADM car for ethanol service . . . . .

There was a piece in last month's issue of trains about a shortline that was making some pretty good money hauling oil because production was far exceeding the pipeline available.

I think it was the "South Kansas & Oklahoma" railroad. The cars are unloaded onto trucks at a transfer facility which then haul the rest of the way to the refinery. The storey which discusses it starts on page 44 of the June 2009 issue. Maybe the library will have it?

I am not an expert on tank cars.. the image in the article shows one numbered "TILX 195145" with a 30070 US gallon capacity. Maybe someone who has the issue and knows tank cars can comment further? It looks a lot like the LPG cars I see a lot around New England.

Chris

I am not an expert on tank cars.. the image in the article shows one numbered "TILX 195145" with a 30070 US gallon capacity. Maybe someone who has the issue and knows tank cars can comment further? It looks a lot like the LPG cars I see a lot around New England.

Wouldn't be an LPG car.  LPG (propane or similar) is a compressed gas, so shipped in pressurized cars. This is an example of a Trinity LPG car, note there are no bottom outlets or pressure release vents along the top of the car. Most pressurized cars have a similar-looking dome covering the loading/unloading fittings.

http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=tilx301521&o=tilx

Crude oil is obviously a liquid and could not be shipped in the same car. The car would have to be a general service type car, probably similar to 30K cars used for ethanol.

This car below is an ethanol car. Note the bottom outlets in the middle of the car for unloading liquid commodities.

http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=tilx192844&o=tilx

Athearn has some modern tanks that represent a Union Tank Car (UTLX) version of an 30K ethanol car.

The ones in the picture shipping oil look just like this athearn ethanol car

http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/PROD/ATH-10595

Even the number is close. I suspsect the same style cars are used for ethanol service.

Chris

btw - i Just found that link by searching google.. I don't know that vendor from a hole in the wall. Dont consider this a recommendation!

Awsome, you just answered alot of questions i had to chris concerning tanks, thansk a bunch!