Hello, I am currently employed at the ExxonMobil in Beaumont, Texas. In the past 4 weeks I have spotted 3 different 27,XXX gallon tank cars with the reporting mark of MBLX which stands for Mobil. What makes these tank cars stand out to me is the fact that they all have a "W" at the end of their reporting number. MBLX 28678W MBLX 28356W and the third one I forgot to write the number down. Can't take photos of even have a camera near here so a photo is out of the question. The "W" at the end of the numbers are Red!!! One was near white but you could see the remnants of the faded red. What do these Red "W"s mean????? Thanks! Hobo Tim
I got the Answer Today! While visiting the ExxonMobil Fire House today I asked one of the Big Dog's about the Red "W"! I had speculated that the Red "W" meant that the contents of the Tank Car was extremely violent when water is added. I was correct. The Red "W" stands for Pyrophoric Content. I am not sure which Pyrophoric they use in this plant, but I know in another ExxonMobil plastics plant I worked, they used "Teal" to produce a certain type of plastic. These Red "W" tank cars are nothing to mess with!!!!! Very Nasty if something ruptures them. No Flame needed. Just Pyrophoric and Humidity from the air!!!! Big Bang!!!! Ok, question answered!!! Thanks for viewing this post! Hobo Tim
Wow! Are those tank cars specially built or reinforced compared to standard chemical cars? Neat info, to say the least!
I was working in Lake Jackson, TX in about 2003 when one of the tankers blew up in a local refinery a few miles away. By chance, I met one of the workers there. He said they heard a huge hissing sound and knew that the combustion process had begun, so they were able to get all the workers out of there in time. If humidity starts the process, then its surprising it doesn't happen more often on the chemical coast, because its nothing if not humid down there!
I would say they don't steam clean those cars after they deliver a load. I guess they blow dry nitrogen in when draining to keep the tank at or above atmospheric pressure. Below is a tank car crushed due to low pressure inside. In this case they steam cleaned the tank, closed the valves and went home. Car cooled and went smush.
