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 100-125 ton capacity steel flat railcar hauls steel slabs with the capacity to alternatively haul steel coils. The car design allows steel slabs of various sizes and weights to be hauled efficiently by placing the slabs longitudinally on the car. The slabs are captive by side stanchions restricting the slabs from lateral movement and bulkheads at the ends preventing longitudinal movement of the slabs. The weight of the slabs is concentrated near the bolsters through raised mounting platforms. The railcar also has the capability to haul steel coils in a built-in trough over the bolster area. The end bulkheads restrict and position the steel coils allowing the coils in each trough to have a gap between them for ease of loading and unloading. The side stanchions restrict the steel coils from unwanted unloading due to coupler forces.

Abstract: A 100-125 ton capacity steel flat railcar hauls steel slabs with the capacity to alternatively haul steel coils. The car design allows steel slabs of various sizes and weights to be hauled efficiently by placing the slabs longitudinally on the car. The slabs are captive by side stanchions restricting the slabs from lateral movement and bulkheads at the ends preventing longitudinal movement of the slabs. The weight of the slabs is concentrated near the bolsters through raised mounting platforms. The railcar also has the capability to haul steel coils in a built-in trough over the bolster area. The end bulkheads restrict and position the steel coils allowing the coils in each trough to have a gap between them for ease of loading and unloading. The side stanchions restrict the steel coils from unwanted unloading due to coupler forces.

Abstract: A wayside electrical pick-up shoe for operating the discharge, or the like, of a railcar includes a spring biased electrical contact pivotally attached to a base plate with a mechanism for electrically insulating the base plate from the electrical contact. The mechanism for electrically insulating the contact may include insulating material forming at least part of the pivot between the contact and the base plate. The mechanism for electrically insulating the contact may further include insulating material supplied on a spring member which biases the contact.

Abstract: A railway gondola car suitable for rotary unloading. The floor of the car comprises a pair of concave troughs which extend between the center sill and the sides of the car having their axes parallel to the axis of the center sill along that portion of the car between the trucks. The car has an increased lading capacity and lower center of gravity than conventional gondola cars.