A piece of rolling stock designed with a large, sealed cylindrical tank to transport bulk liquids, compressed gases, or chemicals. While North American railroaders exclusively say tank car, this term remains standard in British and international railway parlance. They feature top-loading valves and bottom-discharge outlets, and are often pressurized or insulated depending on the cargo.
Heard on the job
The manifest has a block of chemical tank wagons coupled near the rear.
Insider tip
In North America, using the term tank wagon immediately marks you as a foreigner or a model railroader reading European catalogs.