A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).

A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).

A system for supplying dry air to a fuel tank to remove moisture and inhibit contamination includes a dry air supply assembly having an air compressor and an air dryer configured to remove moisture from air supplied by the air compressor to the air dryer, and includes a fluid pump mounted within the fuel tank above a fuel level, with the fluid pump receiving dried air from the air dryer. A suction line extends from the fluid pump and includes an open end disposed at a bottom of the fuel tank. The fluid pump is adapted to receive dried air from the air dryer as a motive force to draw liquid from the bottom of the tank into the opening and up the suction line to the fluid pump, and discharge liquid from the fluid pump above the fuel level within the fuel tank.

A railroad tank car may have external fittings, such as brake fittings. A low mount brake fitting is located in a recess formed in the end sill of the car or in the side sill of the car between the main bolster and the end sill. Where an end sill installation is used, the end sill may be asymmetric, with the recess being formed to one side of the center sill. Alternatively, the end sill may be offset longitudinally away from the striker, and a spacer inserted.

A railroad tank car may have external fittings, such as brake fittings. A low mount brake fitting is located in a recess formed in the end sill of the car or in the side sill of the car between the main bolster and the end sill. Where an end sill installation is used, the end sill may be asymmetric, with the recess being formed to one side of the center sill. Alternatively, the end sill may be offset longitudinally away from the striker, and a spacer inserted.

According to some embodiments, a hatch cover for an opening in a container comprises a body comprising a plate member for covering the opening in the container, a seal on the underside of the body for sealing the body to the container, and one or more pressure sensors disposed between the seal and the body. The one or more pressure sensors are operable to detect a pressure between the body and the container and are communicably coupled to a hatch status device operable to detect a change in pressure between the body and the container. Some embodiments may include a fill level sensor.

A cryogenic tank car tank includes an outer tank, an inner tank positioned within the outer tank, an inner nozzle, and inner manway plate, an outer nozzle, and an outer manway plate. The inner nozzle defines an opening in the inner tank. The inner manway plate is welded to the inner nozzle and covers the opening in the inner tank. The outer nozzle defines an opening in the outer tank and is positioned above the inner nozzle, such that the inner manway plate is accessible through the outer nozzle. The outer manway plate couples to an upper edge of the outer nozzle to cover the opening in the outer tank. In response to applying the vacuum to the annular space between the inner and outer tanks, a differential pressure between the annular space and a space external to the outer tank secures the outer manway plate to the outer nozzle.

A valve actuator can include an elongate shaft configured to engage with a valve stem of a valve assembly. The elongate shaft can include a weakened portion between the first and second ends. The actuator can include an elongate tube configured to receive a portion of the elongate shaft. A can engage a valve stem of a valve assembly a portion of the elongate shaft. The biasing member can bias the elongate shaft away from the valve stem. The elongate shaft can transition between partially and fully engaged positions. The elongate can inhibit accidental rotation of a valve stem when in the partially engaged position. The elongate shaft can be incapable of rotating a valve stem when in the partially engaged position. The elongate shaft can be capable of rotating a valve stem when in a fully engaged position. The biasing member can bias the elongate shaft toward the partially engaged position.

A suppression system for use in a safety railcar may include a source of pressurized water connected to at least one foam tank containing a suppression foam. A controllable valve mediates flow of pressurized water from the source of pressurized water to the at least one foam tank. The controllable valve is controllable to permit flow of pressurized water to the at least one foam tank in response to detection of a hazardous event. A spray nozzle is connected to the foam tank via a rupture disc that is configured to rupture and permit flow of suppression foam from the spray nozzle when pressure within the foam tank exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A suppression system for use in a safety railcar may include a source of pressurized water connected to at least one foam tank containing a suppression foam. A controllable valve mediates flow of pressurized water from the source of pressurized water to the at least one foam tank. The controllable valve is controllable to permit flow of pressurized water to the at least one foam tank in response to detection of a hazardous event. A spray nozzle is connected to the foam tank via a rupture disc that is configured to rupture and permit flow of suppression foam from the spray nozzle when pressure within the foam tank exceeds a predetermined threshold.