All the Atlas tank cars weigh a lot more than the Lionel 30K gallon modern cars do.
In three rail configuration (apples to apples) the visually excellent Lionel 30,000 gallon tank cars weigh 14 ounces, the Atlas 90 ton/17,360 gallon chlorine tank cars weigh 20 ounces.
I decided to review my other dream consist: the 17,600 tank train. I've only gathered 20 of these beauties, and I intend to get around 50 to make for a spectacular train......
It's tempting for me to get their new 25,000 tanks, but I think a consistent long string of the 17,600 cars would look better in the end.
I have never seen a corn syrup unit train. Has anyone else?
I believe that the producers and consumers of corn syrup are lower volume operations that could not be effectively served by a unit train. Twenty cars of corn syrup blocked into a 50 car manifest freight might be more realistic.
The same goes with chlorine, caustic soda, propane or specialty chemicals. Single cars or a few in a block are realistic.
With oil, unit trains are definitely realistic.
