Abstract: The invention provides a graphical user interface implemented on a computer including an information area for displaying to a user at the computer inspection status information in connection with one or more components of a linear asset infrastructure. The graphical user interface also includes a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information on the one or more components of the linear asset infrastructure.

Abstract: Historically, bitumen from oil sands has been carried over land using trucks, pipelines, or by rail, and over water using tankers. Each mode of transportation faces economic or technical challenges of its own. Here there is provided a method for transporting bitumen, comprising: receiving in a dry bulk shipping container a load of discrete pellets with bitumen entrapped into the pellets, wherein the pellets have non-stick outer surfaces configured to prevent the bitumen from sticking to walls of the container when the pellets are carried in the container; and transporting the dry bulk shipping container containing the pellets over a distance. Alternatively or additionally, the pellets may have non-stick outer surfaces configured to prevent the load from caking when the pellets are carried in the container such that the load of bitumen pellets is substantially free-flowing when the transporting is completed.

Abstract: The invention provides a graphical user interface implemented on a computer including an information area for displaying to a user at the computer inspection status information in connection with one or more components of a linear asset infrastructure. The graphical user interface also includes a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information on the one or more components of the linear asset infrastructure.

Abstract: The invention provides a graphical user interface implemented on a computer including an information area for displaying to a user at the computer inspection status information in connection with one or more components of a linear asset infrastructure. The graphical user interface also includes a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information on the one or more components of the linear asset infrastructure.

Abstract: A wheel integrity monitoring system for monitoring the integrity of a railcar wheel in an automated manner while the railcar is in operation (i.e., traveling) and comprising a light source that projects light onto the wheel and a light detector that detects the light reflected by the wheel. The wheel integrity monitoring system is configured to analyze the reflected light to determine if the wheel is defective.

Abstract: A solid bitumen pellet, including a mixture of bitumen and an additive, where the additive operates to increase the viscosity of the mixture. Optionally, the pellet includes a protective shell.

Abstract: The invention provides a graphical user interface implemented on a computer including an information area for displaying to a user at the computer inspection status information in connection with one or more components of a linear asset infrastructure. The graphical user interface also includes a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information on the one or more components of the linear asset infrastructure.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering is provided. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying an origin and a destination for a shipment of goods. The GUI is configured for presenting a plurality of customer-selectable shipment options, the plurality of shipment options, including a first shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer and a second shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price for shipping goods. The method includes causing a computer to deliver first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail transportation service for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. Information about a basic pool of railcars is received and filtered based on one or more filtering criteria to produce a filtered pool of railcars. The computer is then caused to deliver second information to the user prompting the user to select at the computer one or more railcars among the filtered pool of railcars for the shipment of goods. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the rail transportation service and the one or more characteristics of the railcars in the filtered pool of railcars selected by the user.

Abstract: An end-of-car system for railcars is provided comprising an asymmetric draft gear mechanism offering shock absorption to a railcar when the latter is subjected to buff or draft forces. The end-of-car system may be retrofitted to railcars having a different type of shock absorption system.

Abstract: A method, as wells as an associated server arrangement and a computer, for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering are described. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to accept a customer identifier. In response to a specific customer identifier, the GUI displays a customer specific set of route parameters extracted from a customer profile. The GUI also presents customer-selectable shipment options configured to accept options conveying a first and a second geographic location chosen from the customer specific set of route parameters as an origin and a destination of a shipment. The GUI may also be configured to deliver additional information to the user of the GUI in response to specific customer-selected shipping options and/or to provide a control component configured for allowing a user to place an order to fulfill a shipment according to the specific customer-selected shipping options.

Abstract: A method, as wells as an associated server arrangement and a computer, for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering are described. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to accept a customer identifier. In response to a specific customer identifier, the GUI displays an adapted set of individual commodities extracted from a customer profile. The GUI also presents customer-selectable shipment options configured to accept options conveying an identification of a specific commodity to be shipped from the adapted set of individual commodities and a quantity of the specific commodity to be shipped.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering is provided. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying an origin and a destination for a shipment of goods. The GUI is configured for presenting a plurality of customer-selectable shipment options, including (a) a first route option corresponding to a first route including one or more rail segments owned by the same owner; and (b) a second route option corresponding to a second route including a plurality of rail segments where at least two of the plurality of rail segments are owned by different owners. The GUI is configured to receive a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options.

Abstract: A method, as wells as an associated server arrangement and a computer, for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering are described. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to accept a customer identifier. In response to a customer login which identifies a specific customer profile, the GUI displays customer-specific information including a customer-specific list of actual railcars that are associated with the specific customer profile, each railcar being of a particular railcar type, the customer-specific list including actual railcars that are owned by the customer associated with the specific customer profile. The GUI is configured to accept inputs conveying customer-selected shipping options, the customer-selected shipping options identifying one or more actual railcars from the customer-specific list to be used for a shipment of a commodity.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering is provided. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying an origin and a destination for a shipment of goods. The GUI is configured for presenting a plurality of customer-selectable shipment options, the plurality of shipment options, including a first shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer and a second shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is configured by dynamically modifying an input object providing equipment options a user can select for a shipment of goods. Configuring the GUI comprises providing a hardware server arrangement including a machine readable storage encoded with software for implementing operations for configuring the GUI to alter selectable options on a GUI on a remote customer client system. Signals are sent to the remote customer client system to direct the GUI to implement a first input object configured to accept a user input identifying goods to be shipped. Signals are received from the remote customer client system conveying the user input identifying the goods to be shipped.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price for shipping goods. The method includes causing a computer to deliver first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail transportation service for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. Information about a basic pool of railcars is received and filtered based on one or more filtering criteria to produce a filtered pool of railcars. The computer is then caused to deliver second information to the user prompting the user to select at the computer one or more railcars among the filtered pool of railcars for the shipment of goods. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the rail transportation service and the one or more characteristics of the railcars in the filtered pool of railcars selected by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price for shipping goods. The method includes causing a computer to deliver first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail transportation service for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. Information about a basic pool of railcars is received and filtered based on one or more filtering criteria to produce a filtered pool of railcars. The computer is then caused to deliver second information to the user prompting the user to select at the computer one or more railcars among the filtered pool of railcars for the shipment of goods. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the rail transportation service and the one or more characteristics of the railcars in the filtered pool of railcars selected by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price for shipping goods. The method includes causing a computer to deliver first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail transportation service for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. Information about a basic pool of railcars is received and filtered based on one or more filtering criteria to produce a filtered pool of railcars. The computer is then caused to deliver second information to the user prompting the user to select at the computer one or more railcars among the filtered pool of railcars for the shipment of goods. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the rail transportation service and the one or more characteristics of the railcars in the filtered pool of railcars selected by the user.

Abstract: A method for pre-populating an end of shift submission by an employee of a transportation company. The method comprises executing software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a CPU at a client associated with the employee to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to supply particulars relating to a work shift for a member of a crew during a particular transportation trip. The GUI including a plurality of information capture fields for displaying particulars of the shift. The method comprises identifying among a plurality of data records, a data record associated with the particular trip, receiving data elements at the client derived from the record associated with the particular trip and pre-populating the information display fields with the respective data elements. Allowing the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields.