MRL : protection car between Engines and Tank cars ??

Hello
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=155159

I don't see such a composition for the frist time: Between the engines and the gas tank cars a single boxcar is insert.

Does anybody know,
if this boxcar is a protection car (in cause of a accident) or
does this car go to / come from a customers?

Greets

Regulations prohibit having hazardous tank cars immediately next to the power except when making up trains in a yard. So the boxcar is used as a spacer between the locos and the tank cars. The rules are more complex than that, but that's the short answer.

OK
thanks !!!

You need more than one car yes, so who knows here A local can be exempt due to lack of cars but you need to get as much space between the two as possible.6 cars or better and there are more restrictions, no loaded flats with shiftable loads,loads of pipe lumber certain other haz mats.

Look up haz mat regulations online I am sure you may find something.