# What is this big metal thing being hauled through my town? (pics) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2008, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141 "2008-08-07T05:31:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/21 "2008-08-07T17:47:27Z")
[QUOTE=Quercus] Of course, it also seems kinda rusty for a storage tank that’s going to be re-used, but it must be destined for re-use – if it was scrap, I think it would be cheaper to cut it up on site rather than moving it whole. [/QUOTE] I doubt that’s “rust”, what we’re probably looking is [Cor-Ten](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel) or other form of weathering steel. These steels form a stable oxide layer that protects the underlying material, ideal for an exposed environment. That tank could be brand new and look like that if they used such a steel. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/22 "2008-08-07T18:11:47Z")
You’re all wrong. 😛 Despite rising fuel prices, Oscar Mayer is moving ahead with construction of the Wienermobile Maxx. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/23 "2008-08-07T18:20:56Z")
> [@](#): > > I doubt that’s “rust”, what we’re probably looking is Cor-Ten or other form of weathering steel. These steels form a stable oxide layer that protects the underlying material, ideal for an exposed environment. That tank could be brand new and look like that if they used such a steel. I agree. The “Fly-s Eye Cosmic Ray Observatory” out at Dugway in the Utah desert was made of such a steel, and it looked like hell – it looked like the world’s largest garbage can collection, rusting out in the Utah desert. But it was the best and easiest way to protect the steel against corrosion. (Didn’t help the optics, though. They had to haul in the mirrors and strip and recoat them twice a year because of the deterioration in the heat and salt air.) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/24 "2008-08-07T18:22:23Z")
It’s a portion of the internet, one of a series. The rounded ends are there to disguise it. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/25 "2008-08-07T18:33:27Z")
The rounded ends are screw-on caps that keep the Internet from leaking out during transport. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/26 "2008-08-07T18:42:23Z")
I dunno what the column is, but it looks like [the guy steering the rear wheels](http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4536/bigthing5fi2.jpg) has a fun job. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/27 "2008-08-07T18:54:44Z")
Your all wrong. It’s a prop for the sequel to Mad Jack: Beyond Thunderbone. No, I’ve never seen it. I had to google porn titles to find it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/28 "2008-08-07T23:43:08Z")
Has John C. Holmes been exhumed? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/29 "2008-08-08T03:34:43Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] I dunno what the column is, but it looks like [the guy steering the rear wheels](http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4536/bigthing5fi2.jpg) has a fun job. [/QUOTE] Wait 'til the truck driver forgets he’s there after finishing the turn and rumbles up to, say, 20mph. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/30 "2008-08-08T03:43:13Z")
Is this related to the ‘Replace one word with Erection’ thread? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/31 "2008-08-08T07:43:13Z")
Due to the size of the tanks my guess is underground fuel tanks removed from the airport. the only reference I could find was this: [Harrisburg International Airport](http://www.smartenvironmental.com/portfolio.html) Middletown, Pennsylvania TSA has served as Environmental Service Manager at Harrisburg International Airport. TSA completed NEPA required Master Plan EA Re-evaluations in cooperation with the Easter Region of the FAA on the Runway Taxiway Extension and Localizer Relocation and a Re-evaluation of the Categorical Exclusion for the Amtrak Park and Ride Facility in cooperation with PENN DOT. TSA also performed general environmental services for demolition and construction activities at Harrisburg International Airport. The site is a delisted Superfund Site. TSA support services included soil testing, removal and remediation, building demolition hazardous materials audits, erosion and sedimentation support, on-site sampling analysis, preparation and review of demolition and construction specifications, ground water testing and remediation, hazardous materials emergency response, and environmental support to the on-site contractor as well as other contractors supporting the Airport. Work for the Airport included an EA for the demolition of an on-site power plant, a re-evaluation of the Master Plan EA for an on-site water tower and pump station, and two underground storage tank fuel farm closures. I would think this would have made the news but can’t find any reference. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/32 "2008-08-08T08:03:34Z")
[QUOTE=Tom Tildrum] You’re all wrong. 😛 Despite rising fuel prices, Oscar Mayer is moving ahead with construction of the Wienermobile Maxx. [/QUOTE] I’m thinking of getting a Weinermobile W3. I mean, sure it’ll cost me $150 a month to top off the gas tank, but that sucker is gonna look _nice_ when I drive it to the organic grocery store! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/33 "2008-08-08T08:36:20Z")
[QUOTE=Magiver] I would think this would have made the news but can’t find any reference. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I haven’t heard about or seen (I drive past there twice a day) anything going on at the airport, but if that’s where that truck was headed, he’s less than a mile away in the pictures, and on the right road heading in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/34 "2008-08-08T11:29:01Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] I dunno what the column is, but it looks like [the guy steering the rear wheels](http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4536/bigthing5fi2.jpg) has a fun job. [/QUOTE] what’s he doing? is that a leash? he must just be taking his pet out for a walk is all. ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/35 "2008-08-08T11:39:01Z")
Large commercial/international airports don’t often use underground tankage, nor are the tanks under pressure, being either floating roof style or atmospheric. Jet A is not a volatile fluid as regards evaporation. It is essentially highly filtered kerosene. Even tankage for the refuelers (diesel ) came out of the ground in the late '80s, at least on the east coast. Some airports have buried distribution lines but complying with EPA regs and corrosion prevention is costly. Cor-Ten never became a popular steel in pressure vessel (or any vessel AFAIK ) fabrication. Cost and welding issues being foremost. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/36 "2008-08-08T15:29:29Z")
FWIW, I called HIA Operations and the guy I talked to didn’t know anything about the tank. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/37 "2008-08-08T15:52:22Z")
Another question is, why is this thing being moved through the center of town? No by-passes in the area? ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/38 "2008-08-08T18:17:15Z")
Any chance you could call the local or state police (who must have been involved in the escort) and ask them what the heck it was? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141/39 "2008-08-08T18:24:21Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] Yeah, I haven’t heard about or seen (I drive past there twice a day) anything going on at the airport, but if that’s where that truck was headed, he’s less than a mile away in the pictures, and on the right road heading in the right direction. [/QUOTE] There are storage tanks at the airport between the water tower and the salt shed that are roughly 70 feet tall. They have shallow ends so they would hold liquid. The tank on the truck looks like it held pressure so I’m thinking more in line with a chlorine tank which would be found at a waste water treatment plant. The closest plant I could see was 1/4 mile south of the John Harris Bridge (rt-83) along the river which appears to be part of Bethlehem Steel. Looking at the pictures it appears the truck was moving west on E Main street then north on North Union Street (Rt 441). They obviously chose this because of the wide decorative sweep built into this intersection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-metal-thing-being-hauled-through-my-town-pics/459141.md?page=1)