Tank cars and Dangerous Cargo

Another interesting clinic in Chicago was about hazardous materials placards by Rich Mahaney. Tony Thompson has covered placards for my era, so no need to repeat it here. The placards and abbreviated instructions are also available on the Steam Era Freight Cars site.

But it did start me looking to see how it would apply to operations on the layout. And I found I have a booklet, conveniently dated May 15, 1947, to address those questions.

There are multiple sections based on job, and while some of the earlier sections might alter the paper work, the first I'll look at that will apply to operators on the layout is in Section VIII for Yardmasters, Yard Office, and Yard Crews:

10. Cars placarded Explosives" must never be handed next to the engine....either in switching operations or in trains. At least one non-placarded car must separate the engine from the "Explosives" car in switching operations.

22. Cars placarded "Explosives" must be placed and carried in trains, either standing or during transportation, as follows:
In all freight trains, when length of train permits, not nearer than the 16th care from the engine or occupied caboose; and when the length of train will not permit them to be so placed, as near as possible to the middle of the train.
...
Never next to an engine.
Never next to a loaded flat car.
Never next to an open-top car when any of the lading extends or protrudes above or beyond the ends or sides therof.
Next to a car equipped with automatic refrigeration of the gas-burning type.
Never to cars containing lighted heaters, stoves or lanterns.
Never next to a wooden under-frame car.
Never next to a car with live animals or fowl and occupied by an attendant.
Never next to a car placarded "Dangerous."
Never next to a car placarded "Poison Gas."
Never next to an occupied caboose.

23. Placarded loaded TANK CARS must be placed and carried in trains, either at rest or during transportation, as follows:
Not nearer the 6th car from an engine or occupied caboose, when length of train permits, but in no instance nearer than the second car unless the entire train consists of placarded tank cars.
Never next to a loaded flat car.
Never next to a car placarded "Explosives" or "Poison Gas."
Never next to a wooden under-frame car.
Never next to an open-top car when any of the lading extends or protrudes above or beyond the ends or sides therof.
Next to a car equipped with automatic refrigeration of the gas-burning type.

Never to cars containing lighted heaters, stoves or lanterns.

Never next to a car with live animals or fowl and occupied by an attendant.

Never next to an occupied caboose, except when train consists entirely of placarded tank cars.

24. A car placarded "Poison Gas" must not be placed...next to a car placarded "Explosives" or next to a car placarded "Dangerous." Any other position in a freight train is permissible unless the car is also placarded "Explosives."

26. Car placarded "Dangerous," other than tank cars, may be placed and carried in trains in any position desired except next to a car placarded "Explosives" or one placarded "Poison Gas."

Section IX Train and Engine Crews has the same rules, as e, f, g, and h.

All of these are rules that can easily be modeled in our own operations.