United Wagon Company has shipped 26 tank cars for the transport of molasses and vegetable oils to GATX Rail Vostok.
The tank cars, manufactured at TikhvinChemMash plant, are the only model on the 1520-mm gauge market for freight of this type with a stainless steel boiler and a bogie with an increased axle load of 25t.
The design of its boiler, which is made from stainless steel and undergoes a series of special treatments, is one of the key advantages of the tank car. The 15-6900-04 model tank car can be used to transport around 30 varieties of starch product and vegetable oils. Furthermore, the car provides maximum discharge volumes, even for viscous freight and under various temperature conditions, thanks to the boiler with a ‘bent’ axle and the car’s heating system – an external steam jacket with a unique design.
The increased volume of the boiler (56 m3) and payload capacity (74.4 tonnes) allow the tank car’s performance to meet its technical capabilities as fully as possible, providing loads that are 7–10 tonnes higher than the standard rolling stock used in the 1520-mm gauge area. This difference in load makes it possible to reduce the size of the required fleet by almost 10%.
The current Russian fleet of rail tank cars intended for transporting molasses is ageing and unfit for purpose. 60% of Russia’s tank cars which are suitable for transporting molasses are currently being used to transport liquid fertiliser, while the operational life of 20% of the specialised fleet is set to expire before 2024.
Stainless steel boilers are recommended for the transportation of molasses, guaranteeing that the quality of the transported goods will be preserved, but 95% of the Russian fleet of cars for transporting molasses are made of ordinary carbon (“black”) steel.
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