Abstract: A system for transporting vehicles includes a railcar, a deck, a fastener, a screw, and a travelling nut. The deck is positioned within the railcar and is for supporting a plurality of vehicles. The fastener is coupled to the deck and operable to couple the deck to a wall of the railcar. The fastener prevents a vertical position of the deck within the railcar to be adjusted when the deck is coupled to the wall by the fastener. The screw is coupled to the railcar and the travelling nut is operably coupled to the screw. The travelling nut is operable to adjust a vertical position of the deck within the railcar as a position of the travelling nut on the screw changes when the screw is turned.

Abstract: A system for transporting vehicles includes a railcar, a deck, a fastener, a screw, and a travelling nut. The deck is positioned within the railcar and is for supporting a plurality of vehicles. The fastener is coupled to the deck and operable to couple the deck to a wall of the railcar. The fastener prevents a vertical position of the deck within the railcar to be adjusted when the deck is coupled to the wall by the fastener. The screw is coupled to the railcar and the travelling nut is operably coupled to the screw. The travelling nut is operable to adjust a vertical position of the deck within the railcar as a position of the travelling nut on the screw changes when the screw is turned.

Abstract: A system for transporting vehicles includes a railcar, a deck, a fastener, a screw, and a travelling nut. The deck is positioned within the railcar and is for supporting a plurality of vehicles. The fastener is coupled to the deck and operable to couple the deck to a wall of the railcar. The fastener prevents a vertical position of the deck within the railcar to be adjusted when the deck is coupled to the wall by the fastener. The screw is coupled to the railcar and the travelling nut is operably coupled to the screw. The travelling nut is operable to adjust a vertical position of the deck within the railcar as a position of the travelling nut on the screw changes when the screw is turned.

Abstract: A railcar security system that includes a railcar, a first sensor having a first sensor type and a first sensor location with respect to the railcar, a second sensor having a second sensor type and a second sensor location with respect to the railcar, a first lighting group linked with the first sensor, a second lighting group linked with the second sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an arming signal, receive a trigger signal indicating a sensor of the plurality of sensors has been triggered, determine a sensor type and a sensor location for the sensor based on the trigger signal, activate the first lighting group when the determined sensor type and the determined sensor location correspond with the first sensor, and activate the second lighting group when the determined sensor type and the determined sensor location correspond with the second sensor.

Abstract: A system includes a railcar, a first side screen, a second side screen, and an adjustment system. The railcar includes a roof section. The first side screen is coupled to a side of the railcar. The second side screen is coupled to the side of the railcar. The second side screen overlaps a portion of the first side screen. The adjustment system is coupled to the railcar and is operable to adjust a vertical position of the roof section.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a first end, a second end, and a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side disposed between the first end and the second end. The first longitudinal side comprises a center panel and an intermediate panel. The center panel is disposed between a center of the railcar and the intermediate panel. The intermediate panel is disposed between the center panel and the first end or the second end. A width of the railcar at the intermediate panel is greater than a width of the railcar at the center panel. The center panel and the intermediate panel comprise generally straight panels coupled together at an angle. In particular embodiments, the first longitudinal side further comprises an end panel disposed between the intermediate panel and the first end or the second end.

Abstract: A railcar system that includes a first railcar comprising a first plurality of decks and a first plurality of end doors adjacent to a respective deck of the first plurality of decks. The railcar system further comprises a second railcar comprising a second plurality of decks and a second plurality of end doors adjacent to a respective deck of the second plurality of decks. Each of the first plurality of end doors and the second plurality of end doors is configurable between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. The railcar system is further configured such that when a first end door of the first plurality of end doors of the first railcar is in its horizontal orientation it aligns with a second end door of the second plurality of end doors of the second railcar when the second end door is in its horizontal orientation.

Abstract: A system includes a railcar, a first deck, and a second deck. The second deck is positioned within the railcar above the first deck. The second deck includes a first portion, a second portion coupled to a first end of the first portion, and a third portion coupled to a second end of the first portion opposite the first end. The second and third portions can move towards a center of the first portion such that the first portion is positioned above or beneath the second and third portions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a panel, a fastener, and a cushion. The panel is coupled to a side of a railcar. The fastener engages the panel. A vertical position of the fastener on the panel is adjustable. The cushion is coupled to the fastener. The cushion extends from the side of the railcar towards an interior of the railcar and prevents the side of the railcar from contacting an object stored in the railcar.

Abstract: A system includes a railcar, a first deck, and a second deck. The second deck is positioned within the railcar above the first deck. The second deck includes a first portion, a second portion coupled to a first end of the first portion, and a third portion coupled to a second end of the first portion opposite the first end. The second and third portions can move towards a center of the first portion such that the first portion is positioned above or beneath the second and third portions.

Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar having a first longitudinal gate and a second longitudinal gate. The system further includes a first beam and a second beam configured to move longitudinally with respect to the railcar. The system further includes a driving system configured to transition the first beam from a first position to a second position. The first longitudinal gate and the second longitudinal gate are both closed when the first beam is in the first position. The first longitudinal gate is at least partially open and the second longitudinal gate are closed when the first beam is in the second position. The driving system is also configured to transition the first beam from the second position to a third. The first longitudinal gate and the second longitudinal gate are both at least partially open when the first beam is in the third position.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks near each end of the railcar, and a well component supported by and disposed between the trucks. The well component comprises two parallel top chords. A pair of end sections are supported by the trucks and disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section comprises a pair of running boards. Each running board is disposed on one of the top chords of the well component. The end section further comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well component at a first height generally even with the pair of running boards and an end platform disposed near one end of the railcar at a second height. The second height is lower than the first height. The end section also comprises an inclined connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform.

Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar and a nested sliding gate assembly disposed within the railcar. The nested sliding gate assembly includes an upper deck, a lower deck, and a driving system. The upper deck has a plurality of holes. The lower deck is positioned below the upper deck and has a plurality of discharge ports. The driving system positions the lower deck in a first position with respect to the upper deck, where the holes of the upper deck and the discharge ports of the lower deck do not align when the lower deck is in the first position. The driving system also positions the lower deck in a second position with respect to the upper deck, where the holes of the upper deck and the discharge ports of the lower deck at least partially align when the lower deck is in the second position.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a discharge door locking system for a railcar discharge door comprises a lock piston configured to move between a first position (not engaged with an operating beam coupled to a discharge door) and a second position (engaged). The locking system comprises a first and second input. Activation of the first input moves the lock piston to the first position, and activation of the second input moves the lock piston to the second position. The first input of the locking system is coupled to a first input of an operating cylinder coupled to the operating beam. The first input of the operating cylinder is configured to move the discharge door to the open position. The second input of the locking system is coupled to a second input of the operating cylinder. The second input is configured to move the discharge door to the closed position.

Abstract: A railcar includes a support structure and a reinforcement device. The support structure extends across a length of the railcar. The reinforcement device is coupled to the support structure. The reinforcement device includes a first surface defining a first cavity that extends through the first surface and a second surface coupled substantially orthogonal to the first surface. The second surface has substantially the same length as the first surface.

Abstract: A railway car is disclosed. The railway car comprises an underframe and at least one compartment for transporting lading. The railway car comprises at least one discharge opening and a door assembly adjacent to the at least one discharge opening. The railway car comprises a discharge control system comprising at least a common linkage mounted away from a longitudinal centerline of the railway car and a secondary linkage, wherein the discharge control system is operable to move the door assembly between a first position and a second position. The railway car comprises an actuator operable to drive movement of the common linkage in connection with movement of the door assembly between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.

Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar having a first longitudinal gate and a second longitudinal gate. The system further includes a first beam and a second beam configured to move longitudinally with respect to the railcar. The system further includes a driving system configured to transition the first beam from a first position to a second position. The first longitudinal gate and the second longitudinal gate are both closed when the first beam is in the first position. The first longitudinal gate is at least partially open and the second longitudinal gate are closed when the first beam is in the second position. The driving system is also configured to transition the first beam from the second position to a third. The first longitudinal gate and the second longitudinal gate are both at least partially open when the first beam is in the third position.

Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar and a nested sliding gate assembly disposed within the railcar. The nested sliding gate assembly includes an upper deck, a lower deck, and a driving system. The upper deck has a plurality of holes. The lower deck is positioned below the upper deck and has a plurality of discharge ports. The driving system positions the lower deck in a first position with respect to the upper deck, where the holes of the upper deck and the discharge ports of the lower deck do not align when the lower deck is in the first position. The driving system also positions the lower deck in a second position with respect to the upper deck, where the holes of the upper deck and the discharge ports of the lower deck at least partially align when the lower deck is in the second position.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a compression strut comprises a first strut body comprising a threaded end and a hollow end, and a second strut body comprising a threaded end and a shaped end. The hollow end of the first strut body is slidably coupled to the shaped end of the second strut body. A spring is disposed between the first strut body and the second strut body configured to resist longitudinal compression of the compression strut. The first strut body is rotationally coupled to the second strut body so that rotation of the first strut body also rotates the second strut body and rotation of the second strut body also rotates the first strut body. A first ball end is threaded to the first strut body and a second ball end is threaded to the second strut body.