Transition Era Texas Oil (Texaco) Tank Cars - Part One

In 1935 the sizeable Texaco tank car fleet, just under 6,000 cars strong, was sold to General American and leased back to Texaco. The reporting marks remained unchanged, using T.C.X. However, throughout the 1940s, as cars were repainted, the billboard "TEXACO" scheme was abandoned in favor a simple black car with only the basic information, like that shown on TCX 6852 shown above (Hamlet, North Carolina, October 14, 1951, Col. Chet McCoid photo, Bob's Photo.) 

TCX 6852, built in April 1929, also illustrates a couple of other details worth noting. The AC&F 10,000 gallon Type 27 tank cars built in the late 1920s had shorter, fatter tanks, similar to those of the Type 21 design, albeit with three instead of four courses and four tank bands. TCX 6852 is an example of such a 10,000 gallon Type 27. After about 1930, 10,000 gallon Type 27 tank cars featured longer, narrower tanks with only two tank bands. Another interesting detail are the Dalman two-level trucks without Barber lateral motion devices.

TCX 7892, built in May, 1927, is another AC&F 10,000 gallon Type 27. It illustrates the billboard scheme, with silver tank and black stenciling. I also included this photo because the details of the Texaco dealer (along with the Signal dealer at left) are notable for modelers, including the pumps, barrels, sign, etc. Will Whittaker photo at Woodland, California, December 17, 1939.

TCX 4154 also effectively illustrates the simplified post-GATC takeover scheme. It was built by Petroleum Iron Works in May, 1927. Hamlet, North Carolina, October 14, 1951, Col. Chet McCoid photo, Bob's Photo

This last photo is included because it illustrates an interesting Texaco detail stenciled on the ends of cars. Note the rectangle at the right of the tank head (end) containing "F" over "10". TCX 6852 above has "R" over "10", TCX 4154 has "R" over "8" and TCX 7892 also has "R" over "10" on the head. The numbers almost certainly refer to the tank capacity with "8" = 8,000 gallons and "10" = 10,000 gallons. While it is supposition the "F" might refer to fuel while the "R" could refer to refined products. No doubt, one of you can offer some additional details and/or corrections. Photo by Esther Bubley in Casper, Wyoming in 1948.

Information about decals for the GATC era to follow in Part Two