It's really funny, but I never noticed that before! I guess I expected that FRA design regulations or other safety requirements would have required ladders. Maybe they did after a certain period and these cars were just old. I'd be curious to know from some of you with knowledge of the subject! ie, what cars or car owners did not have ladders for example.
Jesse, do you have any old pictures of the tank cars or loading platforms that you mention? Would be great to add them for reference!
It would help all of us model them more accurately and more importantly, we might not feel the need to add ladders to that grungy old tanker that lost them long ago 
Thanks for the fun 
