For those of you (like me) who use the trains, you may know the platforms at Birkenhead Central are currently being renovated (or rather completely replaced).

Here's a photo of the work in progress:-


This is a bit of a bizarre question, but I have noticed there is a large plastic tank half-full of green liquid on the platform, as shown here:-


Whilst waiting for the train, I have pondered, what is that green liquid, and what is it for? Does anyone know? I just can't see how a tank of green liquid is needed to lay a new platform, so thanks very much for any possible info.

Fairy liquid,too wash the cups of their numerous teabreaks. Sorry just could not resist that.

Haha, good one molly! Makes about as much sense as anything I can think of, except perhaps the tank isn't quite big enough for that!

Could be a weedkiller to lay down as they lay tracks / decking etc! Could just be water for a jetwash supply thats gone bit green with sunlight etc.

I'm glad you replied hoseman, as the picture does have a hose in it, so I trust your judgment on this one.

Yes, weedkiller sounds likely. It does look like weedkiller. On that photo it doesn't look very green as my cheapo camera has washed out the colours a bit. But,when you are there it looks a bit more of a deeper green that that. Thanks for the reply!

That hose is an air compressor hose (20bar pressure rated!) with Quay claw couplings on. The tank is an IBC with no adaptor on for the hose so unlikely to be connected in use!

could well be antifreeze

though in this weather i doubt it.

alternatively it could be fuel for the diggers etc? like red-diesel but a green version...

I was thinking fuel to...

Thanks for the further suggestions. Yes, fuel would make sense too. I can see by the variety of different answers that it's not 100% certain what this liquid is. All suggestions seem plausible!

Also, I have posted this question on a rail forum this morning, perhaps someone there may have further suggestions. If I find anything out, I'll post back here.

The main reason I'd like to know about this, is that I uploaded a photo of the tank to the Wikimedia Commons free media repository and I should really put a description in of what this tank is and I'm not sure what to write yet!

hi, I know what it is? with the toilets being done up they need to put the the number one waste in it!!, but as for the number two well their is a tunnel right next to the station! i leave it to your imagination! cheers mike.

Whatever it is I would expect to see a label on it somewhere

Thanks all for the further replies!

The people on the rail forum reckon it's almost certainly water.

The green colour may be caused by something diluted in it.

Either as a result of a previous filling of the tank, or it might be a plasticiser or an anti-bacterial agent to prevent it from becoming a stagnant health risk. Seems as likely as anything to me.

I suppose I could ask someone who works there, but only tend to go there early in the morning at the weekend, when there's no-one around.

But I'm prety sure it's mainly water, from what people have been saying. Thanks all!

Have a swig and see

It's the part which isn't water that worries me!

It'll be harmless, it's more than they dare do these days, leave dangerousl stuff around in an open position like that. My bet is that it's an industrial cleaner of some description.

I'm sure you're right. If there was anything dodgy in it, then I'm sure someone would find out and they'd be in big trouble! Health'n'safety is taken so seriously these days. (Or at least it's supposed to be). When you look at that, it's apparent that there's nothing stopping a member of the public from walking up to that tank and drinking out of it. Apart from common sense that is.

Also I've just found out that IBC (as correctly mentioned by hoseman yesterday) stands for Intermediate bulk container.