A freight car loaded with inert material, or completely empty, placed strategically in a train consist to provide physical distance between occupied locomotives and cars carrying hazardous materials. Federal regulations mandate specific placement of these cars to protect the crew from explosions or toxic leaks in the event of a derailment.
Heard on the job
Make sure you grab a covered hopper to use as a buffer car between the power and those loaded tank cars of chlorine.
Insider tip
Sand or grain hoppers are frequently used as buffer cars on crude oil and ethanol unit trains.
Also heard as
- cover car
- spacer car