I concur "hugely" with OVBuckeye that we see a brand-new distillation column on its way to who-knows-where -- any of a number of Great Lakes region petroleum refineries would be my guess. I've worked in the fine chemical industry for decades and I know a distillation column when I see one. In fact, I think there are some smaller diameter columns on the next car beyond.

And the state of the art 1940s refrigeration. The ice car's right behind the booster ...

It looks like a distillation column. The flared section at the near end of the flatcar is the skirt that will support the column when vertically installed on its pad. You can see a series of flanged necks on the sides of the straight sections that either correspond to internal plates in the column when components of the feed mixture are removed or where feedstocks are added for refining.

Pipe, schmipe, I want to know what the load on the following flatcar is. Looks like the backbone of a giant monster- perhaps a new secret weapon that explains the soldier and his rifle off to the left.

Under the watchful eye of the soldier on the left. This scene is at the 'RIP' track (Repair In Place) so perhaps some of the blocking or load tie downs needed attention on the precious cargo on the flat car. Since the load is longer than the car it is mounted to an 'idler' car is needed at the far end which also provided added space for additional lading.

The soldier seems fascinated by the man doing something to the rails. I wonder what branch of the Army the soldier is? And why is he standing guard?

As seen previously on Shorpy - Gasometers