I shot this in Stratford Ontario last weekend after a train show.
This appears to be some sort of Hazardous Material training car. Check out the different types of accesses/hatches on the top as well as the access doors on each side.
It also seems to be heavily sponsored by some heavyweights in the chemical / transportation business. I'm not sure if it is part of a display or actually used for training but it was all clean and shiny.
I couldn't access the Canadian website - but the US site has info on the 'safety tour' they are/were promoting.

http://www.transcaer.com

Where transCAER is involved with preparing communities for dealing with chemical emergencies, I would guess that the tank car, equipped with all the current "appurtenances" (hatches, discharge valves, etc.) is used to train local emergency teams about what is what, and how to safely deal with it.
"Interesting tank car"? . . . yes, and not a bad idea for a model, for those operating modern layouts. One of these, on a team track, or siding, with a group of people in a "training situation", would make an interesting visual "spot" on the layout.

Interesting tank car!

BTW, how was the Stratford train show? I was thinking of going but couldn't make it in the end due to family commitments (and also distance -- it's pretty far from Toronto).

Rob

TransCAER seems to be sponsored (or at least endorsed - i may be wrong) by Dow Chemicals. Have a look at their pic gallery here. There are some interesting photos of Tankers and the like in the 5 page gallery

What is the purpose of the doorway set into the side?

I have no definate answer, but I'd guess it's access for cleaning crews. Once the tanker is empty they can get in and clean out any leftover chemicals to avoid corosion or dirt build up inside.

I asked because it seems like a weak point in the overall design.

MountainMan Wrote:I asked because it seems like a weak point in the overall design.

I'm not sure it is actually a functional tank car. If it is used for training of local firefighters/hazardous materials handlers, the doors in the side would allow trainees to see how the tank is constructed in order to help them know how to stop a leak if one occurs. The various types of openings on top are probably there to train these same people on all of the various types of fittings and hatches that they might encounter on the various tank cars they would deal with. I think it is a rolling, hands on, tool for training; and it probably is not even capable of being loaded with any product.

Usually, from what I've read, like mentioned above, they are rolling classrooms, used to train fire fighters and HazMat teams. Inside is usually displays, pictures and they show videos on what to do for a patcicular situations. Most were converted from the old "Tank Train" cars.

Sounds logical. Of course, I wouldn't want to take a class while actually sitting inside a tank car...