The nineteen sixties saw a dramatic change in the shape and size of many American freight cars.  It all began with the Southern Railway's Big John 100-ton covered hopper.  The Southern felt that bigger cars should allow it to charge lower rates, but the Interstate Commerce Commission disagreed.  The matter went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court; and the Court ruled in favor of the railroad.  For the rest of the 1960's, the race was on to build bigger and bigger cars of all types.  Almost all of these cars rode on four axles, but about 680 tank cars were built with six or eight axles.  I call them RailWhales!

Most RailWhales have a capacity of 150 to 200 tons.  The largest could carry over 60,000 gallons, although most hold between 35,000 and 48,000 gallons.  While these big cars can operate over most main lines, there were many other lines that could not handle them.  There are also many customers who cannot accomodate them.  Big tank cars can also pose greater risks in accidents.

In an effort to reduce the risks associated with large-capacity tank cars transporting hazardous materials, the Federal government published a rule (35 CFR 14216) on 9 September 1970 that prohibited the construction of any tank car after 15 November 1971 with a maximum gross rail load exceeding 263,000 pounds or with a capacity greater than 34,500 gallons.  This effectively ended the constuction of RailWhales, as well as 4-axle tank cars with 125-ton trucks.

Over half of the RailWhales have been retired and, because of the Association of American Railroads' 40-Year Rule, most of the remaining cars will probably be gone by the end of this decade.  This web site is dedicated to these unique and interesting cars.

We are always looking for new information and photos, especially on the cars that have been retired.  If you'd like to participate, contact the WEBMASTER.

The material on this site is subject to copyright and may only be used for private, non-commercial, non-profit purposes without the specific permission of the webmaster or photographer.