A tanker rail car socket tool includes a drive cylinder including a bore sized to receive at least a portion of a threaded bolt configured to secure a tanker car lid to a tanker rail car; a drive opening formed in a first end of the drive cylinder and sized to receive a portion of a tool configured to transmit torque to the drive cylinder when engaged with the drive opening; and a socket head coupled to a second end of the drive cylinder opposite the first end. The socket head includes a nut opening defined by a plurality of torque-transferring surfaces. The torque-transferring surfaces are configured to transfer the torque transmitted to the drive cylinder by the tool to a nut threaded over the threaded bolt to secure the tanker car lid to the tanker rail car.