By the end of World War I, U.S. production of oil and oil-related products was sharply increasing thanks to the combination of war-related demands as well as demands from home. In order to move oil and new consumer products, tank car producers introduced new car designs. In 1917 General American Tank Car introduced a new general service 10,000 gallon non-insulated tank car. Built in East Chicago, IN, these cars were easily identifiable by their circumferential rivets that surrounded the tank body, with notably different heights between the courses. These “radial course” tank cars utilized steel bolster plates that rise up vertically to hold the tank in place, complete with a “web” section behind to minimize steel consumption.

At a time of fairly monochromatic box cars plying the rails, most consumable products and oil shippers proudly displayed their company markings on the tanks. This car design was no exception, with Sinclair being a dominant purchaser of tank cars of this type. Additionally, many smaller oil shippers had fleets of these cars during the oil boom years. Finally, as many oil businesses failed, the cars ended up back with GATC and were restenciled with new owner markings and were placed back into service for a new owner. Between Union Oil of California, Imperial Oil, and other schemes, think of this as one of the first “crude oil” tank cars of consequence. Forget boring present day tanks. These cars were the most prolific tank cars built during the first tank car building boom, and were found everywhere from 1917 to 1970.

The GATC 1917-Design 10,000 Gallon Tank Car is one of three all-new 1917-Design radial course tank car designs released by Tangent Scale Models. The GATC 1917-Design series of three different tank cars are the first plastic radial course tanks offered in HO plastic! (Radial course means the tank’s steel panels overlap each other, looking like “stairsteps”).

The Tangent Scale Models GATC 1917-Design 10,000 Gallon Insulated Tank Car is a highly-detailed tank car model that includes details accurate for each paint scheme, including KC- or AB-brake variations, with or without Cardwell draft sill springs, and different hand brakes. Other visually-distinctive details for the models include the “see through” bolster section, circumferential rivets, and differing course heights. The RTR models include correct “true-to-life” colors and “hyper-accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement. Finally, the scale replicas operate as well as they look, equipped with free-rolling all-metal wheels and Kadee scale couplers, meaning the models are truly ready to run.

The Tangent Scale Models GATC 1917-Design 10,000 Gallon General Service Tank Car is a highly-detailed tank car model that includes details accurate for each paint scheme, including KC- or AB-brake variations, different dome heights, with or without Cardwell draft sill springs, and different hand brakes.

Features for these awesome replicas include:

– Circumferential riveted tank body and riveted underframe (count ‘em, there are many!)

– Radial course tank body – note the “stairstep” appearance!

– All-new underframe for the GATC 1917-design

– “See-through” cast knee above the bolsters

– Accurate dome appliances

– Dimensionally-correct hazardous placards with accurate hole detail

– Separately applied tank handrail

– Separately applied tank strap detail

– KC- or AB- brake variations depending on the prototype car

– Inclusion of Cardwell draft sill springs depending on the prototype car, otherwise “oval” frame openings where the springs were removed

– Different hand brake appliance options depending on the prototype car

– Highly correct “true to life” colors

– “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement, including lettering applied to the underframe and air reservoir

– Durable wire grab irons and coupler lift bars

– Separate air hoses

– “Near-scale” draft gear box with side detail

– Kadee “scale-head” couplers

– CNC-machined 33” wheels in high-quality Tangent Scale Models ASF cast steel truck with spring plank and with separate brake beams

– Replacement semi-scale wheels available separately from Tangent

– Multiple road numbers for each scheme – these cars often traveled in “groups” of more than one

– Recommended age 14 years and older

IOX “Imperial Oil Limited” 1918+ is the earliest tank car from our 2022 release, and it is a black car with white stenciling. This car is lettered for “Imperial Oil Limited” which was initially part of Standard Oil before the break-up in 1911. At the time of the break-up Imperial Oil was transferred to Jersey Standard Oil, which was later renamed to Exxon. This car has lots of stenciling on it, and includes imperial gallonages on the ends of the car, but also has “United States Safety Appliances Standard” lettering. The IOX “Imperial Oil Limited” replicas come with era-correct K-brakes

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