Model Railroad Hobbyist | February 2016 | #72 GETTING REAL column Tony Thompson Tank Car Basics: Part 1 | Accurate tank car modeling requires prototype understanding FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, I HAVE PRESENTED talks and clinics about the basics of tank car construction and operation, and continue to be surprised how often these top- ics are understood poorly by significant parts of the audience. Accordingly, I am presenting a summary of that material here. Understanding how tank cars were built, as late as the 1950s, as well as how they were operated, is essential to accurate model- ing. Not only the selection of appropriate car models, and the correct lettering of tank cars, but also the realistic assignment of them in model operation, is essential to “getting it right” with tank cars. XX MODELING REAL RAILROADS AND WHAT THEY DO • INDEX • TABLE OF CONTENTS