Abstract: The door operating system of the present invention can be applied to new railcar or retrofitted to existing railcar designs. The hopper car will have a pair of doors on opposed sides of the center sill which are connected through a door spreader. The pneumatic, individual door operating system is connected to the door spreader through an adjustable spreader fulcrum in which the sliding adjustment may add in a proper connection force or tension between the door operating system and the individual doors.

Abstract: A light weight gondola car having side walls constructed of a plurality of upper and lower sheets with a longitudinal stiffener being formed from lower portions of the upper and lower sheets. A bolster transition stake joins the side sheet, top chord, bolster web, and side sill for increased strength. The load from the truck assemblies is transmitted to the car body through load carriers. Diagonal truss members strengthened the end panels. The body frame is connected to the center sill with a reinforcement plate. The center sill and draft sills are interconnected by a tie plate.