Tank car culverts are an affordable, sustainable option for drainage issues. These products, which are made from recycled tank cars from railyards, have several advantages that we’ll dive into below.

1. A tank car culvert will last for years.

When you invest in a drainage solution for your farm, land, or county, you naturally want it to work for as long as possible. Finding a culvert that will hold up for years eliminates the headache (and cost) of having to replace it every few years.

By choosing an old steel tank car for your culvert, you’ll get a solution lasting up to 30 years depending on runoff and other conditions, according to this University of Kansas article. That’s because steel is a higher-quality option than concrete or plastic. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that concrete culverts experience the most damage over time, which make for unsafe crossing. The study also showed that plastic culverts were in the poorest condition of the three materials, while steel’s overall condition was the strongest.

2. It’s strong and solid.

A major reason for steel tank car culverts’ longevity (as we mentioned above) is their strength. High-quality tank car culverts are made out of ½-inch steel, which allows them to support up to 50 tons and a continuous flow of water without bending.

It’s important to note that steel culverts will eventually rust on the outside. However, the metal is so thick that it’s unlikely your product will rust all the way through—meaning your culvert will not weaken with rust as quickly as other drainage solutions will.

3. You’ll conserve resources.

Instead of ordering a short-term solution for your drainage problem, why not invest in one that makes use of materials that have already stood the test of time? Tank car culverts are unique because they’re manufactured from tank cars from railyards. In most cases, the railroad would have simply turned the old car into scrap metal, so this is a great opportunity for you to reuse and recycle an old (but lasting) resource.

Before doing anything else, a professional tank car dealer will inspect the car to make sure no damage will compromise the safety or durability of the culvert. Then, they’ll get to work repurposing the tank car for your farm, land, or county.

4. Prep and delivery will only take a week.

You shouldn’t have to wait weeks for a drainage solution, especially if you’re dealing with flooding or lots of runoff. Once you place an order, an expert tank car dealer will be able to prepare and deliver a culvert in just five days.

For single-pipe culverts—either rounds or half-rounds—you can expect your order to arrive a day or two after your dealer finishes the prep work.

5. You’ll save money.

When you’re ordering a drainage solution, you’ll want to get your money’s worth without having to replace it every few years. Constant repairs can add up in the long run, but you won’t have to worry about this with tank car culverts for your county, land, or farm.

According to the University of Kansas, tank car culverts are priced competitively to similar concrete or plastic products. What’s more, a University of Minnesota study showed that steel culverts outranked concrete and plastic pipes in overall condition. This means that by investing in a steel tank car culvert, it’s more likely to stay in better shape for a long time—which will save you money down the road.

You shouldn’t have to rely on short-term, expensive materials to get the drainage solution you need. With tank car culverts, you’ll have a durable and cost-effective option that will save you time and money in the long run.

Ready to see your tank car culvert options?

Contact a professional.

Clark Tank Cars is a family-owned business that turns abandoned tank cars and flatcars into culverts and bridges. We’ve provided affordable solutions to Indiana farmers, landowners, town and county supervisors, and more. For more information, please visit our home page.

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