LOCAL OIL TRAIN

A new business has open up in the area -an oil distributor.

Gen-set 300 has the duty for the inaugural run of train HLO6.

Short bay window caboose 4368 supports the local, but in a different way; as a 'buffer car' between the engine and the flammable tank cars. This is a temporary set-up; eventually a retired freight car will be used for this purpose.

The tank cars are GATX "Tank Train" cars. Most commonly seen in Southern California, they actually do roam the country a bit. They are so-named because they are inter-connected by hoses between the cars, as  seen here. This feature allows them to be loaded or unloaded from one end of the string, instead of the traditional individual cars, saving time. The oil dealership is set up to unload these cars.

The train carefully pulls out. The tank cars in the background are empty vegetable oil cars, brought in from Johnson Foods. And behind them are plastic pellet hoppers in storage.

As the train departs, the yard men watch carefully for any signs of trouble; with this train, the last thing anyone wants is a derailment!

One of the shop workers sits and watches the train roll out. Hopefully, he's on break; if not, the shop Foreman won't be happy!