[Retired_in_Texas]

Originally Posted by Tourmaline

Mixed [up] messages?


Most of us tend to think of Gasoline storage in large tanks. This undated image is of Wilmington warehouse filled with drums of av gas. First layer of fuel drums seems to be "topped" by a "floor" of wood planks.
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics42/00040605.jpg

Aside from av gas for domestic bases and aboard aircraft carriers shipping it in drums was a necessity due to temporary air fields both in Great Brittan and the Pacific. As a bit of a somewhat long forgotten info on WWII aviation gas, the highest octane fuel was obtained from a form of asphault known as Gilsonite which was mined in Utah and shipped on open rail cars in large canvas bags to a point where it was processed to release the oil contained in it. The high octane fuel was destined for use in British Spitfires and P-51 Mustangs. One can only imagine what the EPA and OSHA would have to say about the storage and shipping of gasoline in 55 gallon drums.

The mountainous conditions in Utah and the tremendous amount of weight being transported lead the the creation of the double articulated steam locomotives by the Union Pacific Railroad unofficially known as "Big Boys." For you folks in L.A. there was one of the 25 of these monsters built during WWII on display in Pomona until last year when it was moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming to be completely restored by the U.P. with the idea of using it to tour the U.S. as a rolling railroading museum.



http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...#axzz2rWVRr1JX