Earliest use of CHEMTREC markings on tankcars?

[GonzoCRFan]

I haven't been able to find a definitive answer to this, so figured I'd ask here: Anyone know the earliest date CHEMTREC info was being placed on tankcars? Earliest photo I've seen of one in-service was 1979 and the label looked to be worn like it has been on for a few years.



I'm trying to figure out which cars in my fleet are appropriate for my 1976-78 layout.

[learmoia]

https://www.chemtrec.com/about/history/Pages/default.aspx

Late 1971/72??

~Ian

[Mr Z]

Are you referring to Hazmat Placards (the colored diamond shaped signs) or some other markings?

Martin Z

[learmoia]

Are you referring to Hazmat Placards (the colored diamond shaped signs) or some other markings?

Martin Z

I think he means the yellow rectangle sticker on the side of tank cars with the emergency phone number.

[GonzoCRFan]

https://www.chemtrec.com/about/history/Pages/default.aspx

Late 1971/72??

~Ian

That's when the organization was formed, but the markings weren't in use that early. I've been through both Morning Sun Tankcar color guides and the earliest dated photo I can find with the phone number on the side is still 1979.

[GonzoCRFan]

Are you referring to Hazmat Placards (the colored diamond shaped signs) or some other markings?

Martin Z

The placards as we know them today were not mandated and standardized until the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act of 1975 was passed. Before that, generic placards did exist, but they were not of a DOT-specified color, design, font, etc...

Anyone who wants to know more about old placards should check out this link:

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html

[Missaberoad]

This October 1979 Karl Geffchen photo shows a Chemtrec decal but it is an uncommon earlier version...

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/utlx/utlx25192akg.jpg

Also from Karl Geffchen I found these two photos of the more common version, April (possibly August) and December 1979 respectively...

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/dowx3519akg.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/celx3359akg.jpg

I was unable to find any photos dated 1978 or 1977 with Chemtrec decals...

[cv_acr]

Since I model 1985 this is a good thread for me too. I can probably apply some of these decals to some tanks too. I'll have to browse some of my reference photos as well.

[GonzoCRFan]

I was unable to find any photos dated 1978 or 1977 with Chemtrec decals...

This one is dated 5/76:  http://rr-fallenflags.org/utlx/utlx85796awb.jpg

[Missaberoad]

Since I model 1985 this is a good thread for me too. I can probably apply some of these decals to some tanks too. I'll have to browse some of my reference photos as well.

By 1985 it seems the common yellow decals were fairly widespread...

This one is dated 5/76:  http://rr-fallenflags.org/utlx/utlx85796awb.jpg

Nice.. I did limit my search to '77 through '80 I'm curious now, should go back and look deeper...
regardless they were not very common in the 1970's

[GonzoCRFan]

Nice.. I did limit my search to '77 through '80 I'm curious now, should go back and look deeper...
regardless they were not very common in the 1970's

I checked the major tankcar groups on Elwood's site as far back as '72, but if you dig deeper and find more, I'm all-ears...

[GonzoCRFan]

Here's another one from 1979 with a different type of CHEMTREC marking, this one looks like a regular stencil: