Abstract: A hinged and pronged plate apparatus for loading railway gondola cars with bulk material, such as municipal solid waste transported by trucks, in a cost-effective and spatially-convenient manner. The railway loading system can have multiple tiers, including a top tier, one or more middle tiers, and bottom tier, which provide working platforms and loading platforms for the gondola cars and vehicles containing the waste and workers that operate the system. The hinged and pronged plate can have a fin with perpendicular prongs extending from the fin. The hinged and pronged plate can be configured to cover the spaces between and surrounding the gondola cars and allows for easy and safe loading of bulk materials from trucks into gondola cars.

Abstract: A transportation system and method of operation are disclosed wherein a network of nodes, such as railway stations, are defined between which relays, such as freight trains, are operated at a selected cue frequency to thereby provide regular and predetermined service to each node within the system. The system also includes a procedure for interchanging blocks, such as freight cars, which comprise the relays upon arrival at and for departure at the respective nodes. Scheduling of operating crews for return to their respective node of origin during a normal shift period is also disclosed.