The Repair Business Unit of Union Tank Car Company (UTCC) has set up a tank car remanufacturing facility in Marion, Ohio. The new plant was developed to retrofit existing DOT-111 and CPC-1232 specification railway tank cars with new safety features, including bottom-outlet valves handles, required by HM-251. The cars will attain a DOT 117R specification that will allow their continued use in flammable liquids service.
The retrofit adds a bottom-outlet valve handle that disengages from the valve when the car is in transit. Also included in the retrofit is top fittings protection, thermal insulation, an 11-gauge steel jacket and full half-inch thick head shields. DOT-117R cars will also have their trucks and brakes reconditioned, as required for 286,000-pound Gross Rail Limit service.
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