| Tank car 34 87 789 0 586-2 of the French National Railways (SNCF) is an interesting car for many reasons. It is a standard gauge French car designed to travel on the broad gauge tracks in Spain and Portugal (changeable axles), but also on the narrow clearances of Great Britain. It is equipped with vacuum and air brakes and Spanish style trucks with a 2 meter wheelbase. The car is also ferry capable and built to the smaller British loading gauge. Lastly, it is labeled for foodstuffs only, and with a flammable placard. That I photographed it in Cognac, France, can only leave suggestive clues to its actual cargo. |