Tesoro Corporation, along with Savage and BNSF Railway, recently gave local business leaders an opportunity to observe and learn about the enhanced safety features, including upgraded valves, of Tesoro’s new DOT 120 crude oil rail cars at the Port of Vancouver, USA.
The event focused on crude oil-by-rail safety in Washington state; the safe operations and handling of crude oil at the Port of Vancouver USA and proposed Vancouver Energy crude oil-by-rail to marine loading terminal; and the DOT 120 rail cars’ additional features that make them safer and better equipped to transport crude oil than previous models. The rail cars meet the safety requirements of the new U.S. Department of Transportation standard with upgraded bottom outlet valve handle, a thicker tank shell, full-height head shields, and a tank jacket. Features that exceed the new standard include both thermal protection and a high-flow pressure relief valve; a thicker tank head than required; protective housing for the manway; and two times the rated tank test pressure.