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 providing information regarding a customer account are provided. The customer account includes a plurality of entries, each entry being indicative of a request for payment where the request for payment is being issued by a biller entity to a customer entity. A payment record including remittance detail data is received over a network account reconciliation data at least in part on the basis of the remittance detail data and the entries in the customer account. A signal suitable for causing information derived from the account reconciliation data to be displayed on a display screen is then transmitted.

Abstract: A system for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard. The system is computer based and has an input for receiving data conveying information about one or more arrival trains arriving at the switch yard and data conveying information about departure trains to depart the switch yard. A processing entity processes the data and computes car switching solutions for the railcars.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price of a railway transportation service for the shipping goods is provided. A computer delivers first information to a user prompting the user to enter information about a rail transportation service including an origin and a destination for the shipment of goods. In response to the origin and the destination information, the computer is caused to deliver a series of routes between the origin of the shipment of goods and the destination of the shipment of goods. The user is prompted to select at least one route from the series of routes. A price for the rail transportation service for shipment of goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the at least one route selected by the user and is provided to the user as a quote for the rail transportation service.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price for the transportation of goods on a route are provided where the route has at a first segment and a second segment adjacent the first segment. The goods are transported on the first segment by a mode of transportation other than a train and are transported on the second segment by a train. A computer is caused to deliver information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information conveying one or more characteristics of the first segment. The computer is also caused to deliver information to the user prompting the user to enter at the computer information conveying one or more characteristics of the second segment. A price for the transportation of the goods on the route is then computed at least in part on the basis of the characteristics of the first segment entered by the user and the characteristics of the second segment entered by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price of a railway transportation service for the shipping goods is provided. A computer delivers first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail route for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the information about the rail route and the ownership of the one or more railcars. The computer displays to the user the price for the shipment of the goods or, alternatively, the price for the shipment of the goods is provided to the user via other ways such as e-mail, snail-mail or fax.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price of a railway transportation service for the shipping goods is provided. A computer delivers first information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information about a rail route for shipment of goods by one or more railcars. A price for the shipment of the goods is then computed at least in part on the basis of the information about the rail route and the ownership of the one or more railcars. The computer displays to the user the price for the shipment of the goods or, alternatively, the price for the shipment of the goods is provided to the user via other ways such as e-mail, snail-mail or fax.

Abstract: A method and system for computing the price for the transportation of goods on a route are provided where the route has at a first segment and a second segment adjacent the first segment. The goods are transported on the first segment by a mode of transportation other than a train and are transported on the second segment by a train. A computer is caused to deliver information to a user prompting the user to enter at the computer information conveying one or more characteristics of the first segment. The computer is also caused to deliver information to the user prompting the user to enter at the computer information conveying one or more characteristics of the second segment. A price for the transportation of the goods on the route is then computed at least in part on the basis of the characteristics of the first segment entered by the user and the characteristics of the second segment entered by the user.

Abstract: An articulated railcar for transportation of highway trailers is lightweight and has a deck height which permits heavy highway trailers to be carried without exceeding the maximum allowable center of gravity height above the top of the rail.

Abstract: A remote control system for a locomotive utilizes air from the train air brake line to control the independent locomotive brakes. The system provides a portable remote control unit for easy attachment to a locomotive utilizing locomotive power and trainline wires to provide input for the locomotive operation. The system comprises an air link between the train air brake line and the independent locomotive brake line, brake control valve in the air link, operating control for the brake control valve utilizing air from the train air brake line to control air pressure in the independent locomotive brake line, receiver attached to the locomotive for receiving radio instructions and producing signals for the operating control for the brake control valve, direction of travel and throttle position for the locomotive, and transmitter having control switches for an operator remote from the locomotive to send radio instructions to the receiver.

Abstract: An articulated hopper railcar is provided which when fully loaded has a low combined center of gravity and has an improved track load distribution when compared with conventional railcars of similar capacity. The car has good dynamic stability making it ideal for rail lines with greater surface irregularities and sharper curves than those found on main lines.

Abstract: A bipolar signal is recovered and separated into its positive portion and its negative portion. The incoming bipolar signal and its inverted form are separately compared to a switched threshold. Switching of the threshold from a low standby level to a high level is effected by feedback of the output signals. The circuit generates a switched reference signal which is applied to two comparator circuits, one for the bipolar signal, the other for the inverted bipolar signal, and a hysterisis generator switches the threshold to its high level when a comparator circuit produces an output signal.