The first series of 80 WASCOSA safe tank cars® was recently delivered and is being used for the transportation of sulphur dioxide. The safety and labour protection package that was developed together with customers, freight car and component manufacturers , experts for crash and simulation technology and not least the German Federal Railway Office has been in successful use since the summer of 2010.
The safety concept for the car covers all requirements related to the transport of hazardous substances by rail and extends to transporting chlorine by rail, where the design at the same time defines a new standard.
The demand for this new type of car was correspondingly great across Europe. The extra costs for the optional safety extras are comparatively low, thus making the vehicle even more attractive for responsible shippers.
«With its various safety elements and the optimised brake platforms at both ends of the car it epitomises the hazardous substances tank car of the future», according to Philipp Müller, CEO of WASCOSA.
Innovation package for more safety
The customer invited tenders for a fully equipped chlorine car that should offer much more in the field of safety than other cars that had previously been available on the market. «A comprehensive safety concept was drawn up for the hazardous substances tank car together with various partners. A completely new rollover protection (patent pending) was developed, for example», explains Irmhild Saabel, Project Manager for the WASCOSA safe tank cars and Member of the Management Committee of WASCOSA. A further safety element that has its origins in locomotive construction is the EST Suprabuffer G2. The strength and deformation behaviour of this buffer have been optimised on the basis of the latest findings to protect the WASCOSA safe tank car® with a reinforced undercarriage far beyond the level required by RID. The car is equipped with two mechanical derailing detectors to prevent any serious damage in the event of derailing. In addition the WASCOSA safe tank car® has four ride-up protection modules type AC04 from the firm of EST which prevent the buffers of one car riding up over the buffers of the neighbouring car in the event of an accident. This completely newly designed buffer ride-up protection for the first time meets the RID special regulation TE25 section a) which requires that not only should the bottom of the tank be protected against penetration by riding-up opposite buffers but also that riding up be prevented in the initial phases.
An optimised brake platform with a continuous, unrestricted passage width and additional handrails on the side ladders contributes to more safety at work. Whereas new constructions up to now only had a brake platform at one end of the car, the WASCOSA safe tank car® gives the operational personnel a safe chance to cross from one side to the next at both ends of the car.
Successful simulation tests with the tank car
Since safety elements are only sensible if it can be proven that they make things safer, WASCOSA has for the first time had arithmetical simulations performed of various load cases for the WASCOSA safe tank car® and all of its components in agreement with the approval authorities. Our partner was the firm of Makross in Munich who for years now have been carrying out successful simulation calculations for all famous automobile manufacturers.
The WASCOSA safe tank car® defines a new safety standard in the transportation of hazardous goods. © WASCOSA AG
In the event of a collision the ends of the vehicles with Suprabuffer G2 and ride-up protection module AC04 interlock so that the vehicles cannot swerve upwards or to the side. © EST Eisenbahn-Systemtechnik GmbH
A solid and torsion-proof safety frame, the newly patented rollover protection UE 01, protects the exposed valves. © EST Eisenbahn-Systemtechnik GmbH
The WASCOSA safe tank car® gives the operational personnel a safe chance to cross from one side to the next at both ends of the car. © EST Eisenbahn-Systemtechnik GmbH