A FRAMELESS TANKCAR —– IN 1926 !
This drawing was found as I was cataloging the elderly drawings in the UPHS collection recently. It caught my attention because it is a frameless tankcar drawing dated 1926. I was unaware at the time of the possibility of a frameless tankcar drawing existing in 1926. I do not know tankcar history well enough to make a judgment as to the uniqueness of this design, so I ask for comments from those of you who read this post. It is very likely someone out there knows the history of this particular design concept, at least I hope so.
Posted on December 22, 2011, in ART AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE DRAFTSMAN, TRIVIA FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD DRAWING COLLECTION, UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD HISTORY IN DRAWINGS, UNUSUAL DRAWINGS IN THE UPRR DRAWING COLLECTION and tagged ART AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE DRAFTSMAN, TRIVIA FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD DRAWING COLLECTION, UNUSUAL DRAWINGS IN THE UPRR DRAWING COLLECTION. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
UNION PACIFIC DRAWING TRIVIA 
The basics for this arrangement were introduced by Cornelius Vanderbilt 3rd with his Vanderbilt tender patented in 1901. The initial design of bolster on tank was problematic for the railroads quite early on, so they altered the patent to add a traditional frame for the tenders and the rest is history. Vanderbilt’s initial patent expired circa 1923. But the advantages of a cylindrical tank are obvious from a capacity, strength and weight standpoint. I don’t know a thing about tank cars.
Thanks for the tender comment. A similar story can be told about the “Van Dyke” design tankcars and loose rivets.
The Old Machinist