Throw Back Thursday – AGCX Methanol Tank Cars

by Keith MacCauley

Alberta Gas Chemical (AGC) was a 1970’s origin subsidiary of Nova Corporation of Alberta, whose beginnings date back to 1954 when it was incorporated as The Alberta Gas Trunk Line Company Ltd (AGTL). Methanex Corporation acquired in whole Nova’s methanol business and operations in 1994.

In the late 1970’s, employing the AGCX reporting mark, AGC began to assemble a fleet of 30,000 gallon (nominal/usg) non-insulated methanol tank cars, decorated with a large red and white ‘ALBERTA GAS CHEMICALS’ logo. In 1990, along with acquiring the AGCX reporting mark, Procor purchased the entire AGCX fleet comprised of some two hundred and thirty cars. Classified as DOT 111A 100W1, the fleet consisted of fifty cars built by Procor Oakville in 1978 (AGCX 10000-10049) and one hundred and eighty cars produced by Hawker Siddeley Transport in Trenton Nova Scotia, 1981/1982 (AGCX 10050-10229). A quick identifier of the Procor built tank cars, is the prominent reinforcing ring at each end. The new owner was obligated to paint out the AGC emblem ASAP. While all of the AGCX tank cars were AAR fifty-year interchange eligible, Transport Canada Dangerous Goods transportation packaging rules would ultimately shorten their life. Further to rule making introduced in 2015, DOT 111A 100W1 tank cars used to transport Class 3, Packing Group II commodities (such as Methanol) had to be removed from service by 5/1/2025.  

Wordless Wednesday No. 676

 

    

May - "This and That"

GT 6206 Pt Huron, Mi. Aug. 13, 1987 Glenn Courtney photo, Bob Bowes collection, Peter Mumby collection.

I did some more scans lately from the Peter Mumby collection, some being of the GTW. I am thinking of doing another book through Amazon maybe a tribute to Peter Mumby using his throwback Thursdays, some work cars or equipment and cabooses and a selection of trains from Eastern Ontario and South Western Ontario...will see. 

On another note I have had a number of visitors to the WRD in the past week. Last week Luc stopped by and yesterday my old friend Warren Dodgson stopped by. We had not seen each other in about 10 years till we had coffee a few weeks back. He used to model the Rutland Ry. and B&M years ago when he was modeling. The last time he seen the layout was maybe 15 years ago when be brought CV modeler and railfan Bill Brigham by who was visiting from Vermont. This time he had Rodney with him an O scale modeler just getting into the hobby. Interesting to learn that Rodney hired on the CN the same year as me but could not take the layoffs we were subjected to in the 1970's so moved on to another career which put him in Vermont through the 1980's working in Rutland and Burlington at times. Warren and I spent a lot of time trackside in Vermont during that time and who knows maybe we crossed paths and did not know it. Anyhow a great conversation. 

I also had the grand kids over yesterday morning also wanting to check out the train so most of a hot summer like day after a cold spring was spent downstairs. Once the dust settled it was a nap on the couch...George Dutka   

I was at the Ontario Narrow Gauge show on Saturday and was displaying some of my Maine two-footers in O and HO scale along with a number of buildings. It as a great show with lots to see. I also was working away at rusting up some signs and painting and staining cast plaster details as a kind of mini-clinic.

My table

A O scale model kit that might be in the works.

I really love Mt. Alberts tool set in O scale. A lot of nice details to add to a scene.

Mt. Albert's details

I always grab a bundle of Mt. Alberts off cut lumber at the show. A great deal for $15. They all were sold before the end of the show.

On May 6 2026 I was on my way to Strathroy after watching my grandson compete in track and field in Mt. Brydges, Ont. I crossed the CPKC overpass on highway 21 when a train was approaching. A look out the rear view mirror indicated no one behind me so I just stopped jumped out of the car and took this one shot. I was on my way to Fred's of yesterdays post. A good day all and all.

I think this is a prototype photo of the mock-up of the lake steamer model seen above at South Portage 1930's. This little engine was in St. Thomas for years before heading back to it's original line area.

Visiting Fred Lamport

This is the Full Steam Ahead kit of North American Bent Chair Co, which once stood in Owen Sound, Ontario. It is a much longer building than this. Fred took the kit and stacked it to make a taller version for his layout.

Our local club gathered at Fred Lamport's place two Wednesdays ago for our monthly gathering. Fred likes building craftsman kits which are nice to view...captions tell the story...George Dutka   

Fred uses paper from Home Depot that is used in construction to contour his hills. It is brushed with white glue which makes it rigid.

The silo's in the background are plastic that are rapped with printed concrete texture for such an structure. It looks really good.

A closer look at the paper wrap.

Another view of the Bent Chair Co. 

Snapshot - May 2026

Layover power May 3, 2026 at East Deerfield, Ma.

This months snapshot is my stop at East Deerfield, Ma on my home from the RRHS convention. No action but lots of power on layover. One can drive along the back of the mill which is now an indoor golf range. I just shot through the open areas from my car. I was surprised the leaves being out and big when they are just budding less an hour north of there...George Dutka 

MEC Woodchip Car

Made from a Front Range model.

The only thing I purchased at the Woodstock train show last month was a MEC woodchip car. It was from friend Chris Wright. It looked nice all weathered up but I was not sure on the color. All the MEC woodchip cars I have seen photos of are green. I do recall George Melvin saying that the MEC had a habit of painting every 4th car MEC yellow gold. Rolling stock was normally painted every 5 years in the past. I'm not sure that was the case with the woodchip cars...George Dutka

May 2026 Update

I seem to get others leftovers which they want to see me do something with. This is a group my friend Gary gave me last week...leftovers from a train estate he is dealing with. Will see what happens with some of it. Right now they made it as far as the garage.

My modeling is at a standstill for now. On Tuesday I was at old timer basketball and got a hard pass off the tip of my finger which broke it. So in a splint which is on my strong hand making tasks a chore. This was a day my friend Luc Sabourin from Sarnia was to come by to check out the layout at 1pm. I was in the hospital at that time but we were able to connect at 4pm for the visit. It gave Luc sometime to railfan in London. His trip to and from Sarnia as it turned out was more fruitful following the CN tracks than my trips.

It was passed along from my friend Andy Greenlees via Clare Gilbert that Rick Hunter of Hunterline stains and kits passed on Monday. If you like his stains as much as I it might be good to stock up as who knows if the line will continue. Rick was a great guy, I had met him many times as he took our WOD-NMRA group through building his kits a number of times over the years. He made the build fun to do. I also learned a lot from him back then.

Don and I are attending the RPM meet at the end of the month in Springfield, Ma. So posts might be thin around that time...will see how it goes maybe we will be posting about the meet while there...all for now...George Dutka

This is one of the leftovers in the garage. I think it is a version of the ITLA tower. It seems more narrow than the one I built in the past.

This is the track plan of Luc Sabourin's new layout which is being built. The plan is 8' x16" modern day Northern Maine proto-freelance of his Brownville & Ashland Rwy. Interesting to hear about someone modeling the era of  what we see today. Not many modelers are that current.

I will be displaying at the Show this weekend.

This structure is off Peter Mumby's On30" module that I now have. We built our structures together. I thought I would take if further by adding some weathering to it, newer details and a new platform out front and some extra signage. I will have it at the narrow gauge show. More on it will be on my narrow gauge blog.

Thought this poster was interesting. It was at the Brattleboro, Vt. station art gallery on my way home earlier this month. 

Throw Back Thursday – PROCOR Pressure Flow Cars

Often mistaken as some type of modified tank car, Procor built ‘Pressure Flow’ cars were in fact constructed to an AAR Tank Car Manual prescribed specification; AAR 207A. Per most pressure vessel guidelines, operation above atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi) is subject to an industry issued code or standard. As example, boilers are subject to ASME pressure vessel codes, while steam locomotives are subject to DOT 49 CFR Part 230. Procor built Pressure Flow cars had an design/operating pressure of either forty or forty-eight psi. 

Over a thirty-year period, between 1965 and 1995, Procor Oakville constructed more than five hundred Pressure Flow cars. Predominantly used in powdered cement transport, the higher pressure rating provided for over packaging of more volatile materials such as calcium carbide. Calcium carbide is used in steel making and in the production of acetylene and reacts violently when exposed to moisture. While also manufactured to support it’s lease fleet, most Pressure Flow cars were built under contract for sale to others. Sale customers included British Columbia Railway with thirty, Canadian National Railways with more than three hundred and Canadian Pacific Railway with more than one hundred.

Today, only a handful of Pressure Flow cars remain in service. Cars constructed in the 1960’s and early 1970’s were subject to the AAR forty-year interchange life limit. Powdered material transport migrated to conventional Class LO covered hopper cars equipped with low pressure rated pneumatic off loading apparatus. The last Pressure Flow cars constructed by Procor (UTLX 800000 – 800007) were built for the Union Tank Car fleet for use in Phosphorous Pentasulfide transport.

Wordless Wednesday No. 675

 

Don Janes photo     

East Deerfield, Ma

Mid morning at East Deerfield May 3, 2026 

I have been to East Deerfield many times but this was the first time I saw someone using the B&M caboose near the bridge. I was watching over the other side of the bridge when I could smell something burning. Guess it was stove oil. When I walked over to the other side I was surprised to see smoke coming out of the chimney. I guess it is someone's getaway location on a cool Sunday morning...George Dutka  

CN Woodchip Cars

My CN operational diorama that I was working on in the late 1980's has an Athearn geep shoving a cut of woodchip cars I kitbashed from Front Range boxcars. The caboose was scratch-built by Al Howlett back then. I believe I purchased it off Bob Hannah. Wish I kept it to compare to the new ones coming out soon.

I took this photo back in 1989 of a 12' diorama I operated on. I recently found the slide again and scanned...George Dutka    

CN856516 Oct 29, 1989 on its way to be cut up in London, Ont. Peter Mumby photo.

CN 858161 Oct. 1984 London, Ont. Peter Mumby photo. This car did not have the rooftop extensions.

CN 455242 woodchip car in 1964. Peter Mumby collection. An outside braced wooden car.