I photographed these cars in Carrollton, Tx. They're apparently kept together in this three car arrangement because that's how they were switched. Who knows what are they used for? They're definately cool enough to model.
Apparently it is equipment for Dupont to use in Chemical emergency training. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=81877
I will probably be corrected but they are training cars for CAER which is community awarness and emergency responce car partnership. Here is a link to a site with more information. Steve http://www.dupont.com/emergencyresponse/html/caertrain.html
That would make an interesting insert in a train. How are they moved from place to place? Special movement, or imbedded in a regular train? Of course, those of us with logging operations could model just the tank car, minus the DuPont logo and pretty paint. That would represent a "relief car" that could handle half a dozen of our burly "wood hicks" in a single seating, with reserve capacity for the entire crew for a whole shift!
These showed up on the BNSF switcher in the consist of cars and then were transferred to the DGNO and switched out as anything else would be (except for keeping them all three together). Just thought they were cool and you all would like a look at them.
That UP 911000 is a maint of way number or non-revenue type. Also, it doesn't have DuPont on it. Perhaps FRA requires this. I wouldn't be surprised if the other major rr have one, too.
I saw those dupont cars in Kansas City a couple years back on a night train. I always wondered what those were.
Those are hazmat training cars. They have just about every imaginable type of valve and discharge setup on them. Used for training hazmat teams and fire departments.
BP/Amoco also have a similar car, here a shot at Dolton Jcn IL back in Sep 2000. If that image gives you a red X, the following link should work and give a larger version of the image: http://usrailroadpics.fotopic.net/p3265195.html
http://www.transcaer.org/downloads/newsletters/summer_1999.pdf Try the above and go to page 8. All of theses HasMat Training cars are listed along with a couple of others.
That Dupont trio could make an interesting track maintanance set: Magnetic - Metal Collection Car Vacume Car Rail Cleaning Car