Abstract: A railcar for transporting one or more steel coils. In various embodiments, the railcar includes a front truck assembly, a rear truck assembly, a center sill assembly including a center sill operably supported by the front and rear truck assemblies, and first and second side walls supported by and substantially coupled to the center sill assembly such that the first and second side walls are spaced-apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center sill.

Abstract: A hopper railroad car top hatch cover assembly including a hatch cover and a hatch cover securer configured to secure the hatch cover in a closed position engaging a coaming of the hopper railroad car.

Abstract: Methods of increasing total volume capacity of a railroad hopper car having a car body with two or more hoppers are shown and disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes severing the car body of the railroad hopper car along a vertical plane to form a first portion and a second portion of the railroad hopper car. The method additionally includes separating the first portion from the second portion to define a space therebetween. The method further includes installing, in the space, various components to define one or more additional separate hoppers of the car body.

Abstract: Cover assemblies for railroad cars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cover assemblies include a cover pivotably movable between closed and open positions. The cover assemblies additionally include a lid stop assembly including a release handle positioned adjacent to a cover handle and a first locking element operatively connected to the release handle. The lid stop assembly additionally includes a second locking element attached to, or formed with, the housing. The first locking element moves between a locking position in which the first locking element engages the second locking element to secure the cover in the open position, and a releasing position in which the first locking element is spaced from the second locking element allowing the cover to be moved from the open position toward the closed position. The release handle allowing the user to move the first locking element between the locking and releasing positions.

Abstract: Open top gondola railcars and closure assemblies for cleanout openings of those railcars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the closure assembly includes a closure member sized to be received in a cleanout opening and to span a substantial portion of the cleanout opening to define at least one gap between a closure perimeter and a floor perimeter. The closure assembly additionally includes a sealing member fixedly attached to, or formed with, the closure member. The sealing member spans between the floor perimeter and the closure perimeter to cover the at least one gap. The closure assembly further includes a tethering member having opposed first and second end portions. The first end portion is fixedly attached to the closure member and the second end portion is attached to one of the floor or a cross bearer of the open top gondola railcar.

Abstract: Railroad hopper cars and methods of increasing total volume capacity of a railroad hopper car having a car body with two or more hoppers. In one embodiment, the railroad hopper car includes a car body having a pair of opposed sides and a pair of opposed ends defining a length. The hopper car additionally includes a pair of wheeled trucks supporting the car body. The hopper car further includes two or more spaced bulkheads extending between the pair of opposed sides to define three or more separate hoppers arranged adjacent one another along the length of the car body and between the pair of side walls. The hoppers being longitudinally asymmetric such that total volume of the hoppers on one side of a transverse center plane of the car body is different from total volume of the hoppers on the other side of the transverse center plane.

Abstract: Manway assemblies for railroad tank cars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the manway assemblies include a cover having a perimeter portion with a plurality of spaced grooves. The manway assemblies additionally include a plurality of spaced fasteners pivotably attached to the nozzle adjacent to the opening. The manway assemblies further include an interference member attached to the cover adjacent to at least one groove. The interference member prevents pivoting of the at least one fastener from a secured position in which the fastener is received in a corresponding groove, to an unsecured position in which the fastener is spaced from the corresponding groove when the cover is in a closed position. The interference member allows pivoting of the at least one fastener from the secured position to the unsecured position when the cover is in a partially open position in which pressure contained within the railroad tank car is vented.

Abstract: A railroad hopper car having a single cargo-receiving hopper extending over substantially the length of a car body having a cargo discharge portion occupying most of the available distance between the wheeled trucks supporting opposite ends of the car body. The car has no pair of slope sheets separating longitudinally-adjacent hoppers and defining unusable space beneath the slope sheets, and so the overall length of such a hopper car capable of carrying a desired volume of cargo can be less than that of one with multiple separate hoppers. Cargo discharge openings are arrayed along the length of the cargo discharge portion, and a unitary multi-gate assembly is supported within the cargo discharge portion of the car body so as to be movable longitudinally of the car body to open or close all of the cargo discharge openings simultaneously.

Abstract: A configurable railroad car including a plurality of multi-orientation coil/slab supports that are configured to be positioned on, oriented on, and securely attached to the floor of the railroad car in different sets of positions and orientations to enable the railroad car to transport different products such as coils, elongated slabs, a mix of coils and elongated slabs, or other products.

Abstract: Autorack cars, may include a car body and a pair of wheeled trucks supporting the car body. The autorack cars may additionally include a stationary deck segment fixedly attached to the car body and at least one pivoting deck segment that is adjacent to the stationary deck segment and that is pivotably connected to the stationary deck segment such that the at least one pivoting deck segment is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the stationary deck segment. The at least one pivoting deck segment may be adapted to support at least one vehicle in the lowered and raised positions. The autorack cars may further include at least one pivot assembly for moving the at least one pivoting deck segment between the lowered and raised positions.

Abstract: Door assemblies for insulated boxcars and refrigerated boxcars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the door assemblies include a generally planar base, a liner spaced from the rear surface of the base. The liner includes a central portion and a perimeter portion surrounding the central portion. The door assemblies additionally include a perimeter gasket attached to the perimeter portion and surrounding the central portion. The door assemblies further include first and second end wall members. The base, the liner, and the first and second end wall members define an interior compartment therebetween. The door assemblies additionally include insulation disposed within the interior compartment, wherein the first and second end wall members are shaped such that insulation is disposed within one or more planes that are perpendicular to the base and to the perimeter portion of the liner and that include a portion of the perimeter gasket.

Abstract: A railcar for transporting one or more steel coils. In various embodiments, the railcar includes a front truck assembly, a rear truck assembly, a center sill assembly including a center sill operably supported by the front and rear truck assemblies, and first and second side walls supported by and substantially coupled to the center sill assembly such that the first and second side walls are spaced-apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center sill.

Abstract: A covered hopper railroad freight car having a car body whose opposite longitudinal sides include substantially flat, parallel, generally vertical upper side wall portions free from outwardly protruding structural strength members.

Abstract: A railroad hopper car having a single cargo-receiving hopper extending over substantially the length of a car body having a cargo discharge portion occupying most of the available distance between the wheeled trucks supporting opposite ends of the car body. The car has no pair of slope sheets separating longitudinally-adjacent hoppers and defining unusable space beneath the slope sheets, and so the overall length of such a hopper car capable of carrying a desired volume of cargo can be less than that of one with multiple separate hoppers. Cargo discharge openings are arrayed along the length of the cargo discharge portion, and a unitary multi-gate assembly is supported within the cargo discharge portion of the car body so as to be movable longitudinally of the car body to open or close all of the cargo discharge openings simultaneously.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a hopper railroad car top hatch cover assembly including a hatch cover and a hatch cover securer configured to secure the hatch cover in a closed position engaging a coaming of the hopper railroad car. Various embodiments provide a hopper railroad car having a top hatch cover assembly including a hatch cover and a hatch cover securer configured to secure the hatch cover in a closed position engaging a coaming of the hopper railroad car.

Abstract: A railroad hopper car having a single cargo-receiving hopper extending over substantially the length of a car body having a cargo discharge portion occupying most of the available distance between the wheeled trucks supporting opposite ends of the car body. The car has no pair of slope sheets separating longitudinally-adjacent hoppers and defining unusable space beneath the slope sheets, and so the overall length of such a hopper car capable of carrying a desired volume of cargo can be less than that of one with multiple separate hoppers. Cargo discharge openings are arrayed along the length of the cargo discharge portion, and a unitary multi-gate assembly is supported within the cargo discharge portion of the car body so as to be movable longitudinally of the car body to open or close all of the cargo discharge openings simultaneously.

Abstract: Subassemblies for railroad tank cars are herein disclosed. In some embodiments, the subassembly includes a center sill including a generally horizontal top member and a pair of upright side plates spaced apart laterally from each other and a head brace having a lower margin welded to the top member of the center sill and an upper margin welded to the head of the tank. Each of the side plates having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, the top surface being planar within a longitudinal central portion and at least a substantial part of a first longitudinal end portion. The bottom surface is planar and parallel to the top surface within the longitudinal central portion and a second longitudinal end portion. At least a substantial part of the bottom surface within the first longitudinal end portion has a shape that includes or approximates one or more radiuses of curvature.

Abstract: Cover assemblies for railroad cars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cover assemblies include a cover pivotably movable between closed and open positions. The cover assemblies additionally include a lid stop assembly including a release handle positioned adjacent to a cover handle and a first locking element operatively connected to the release handle. The lid stop assembly additionally includes a second locking element attached to, or formed with, the housing. The first locking element moves between a locking position in which the first locking element engages the second locking element to secure the cover in the open position, and a releasing position in which the first locking element is spaced from the second locking element allowing the cover to be moved from the open position toward the closed position. The release handle allowing the user to move the first locking element between the locking and releasing positions.

Abstract: A railcar for transporting one or more steel coils. In various embodiments, the railcar includes a front truck assembly, a rear truck assembly, a center sill assembly including a center sill operably supported by the front and rear truck assemblies, and first and second side walls supported by and substantially coupled to the center sill assembly such that the first and second side walls are spaced-apart from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center sill.

Abstract: Open top gondola railcars and closure assemblies for cleanout openings of those railcars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the closure assembly includes a closure member sized to be received in a cleanout opening and to span a substantial portion of the cleanout opening to define at least one gap between a closure perimeter and a floor perimeter. The closure assembly additionally includes a sealing member fixedly attached to, or formed with, the closure member. The sealing member spans between the floor perimeter and the closure perimeter to cover the at least one gap. The closure assembly further includes a tethering member having opposed first and second end portions. The first end portion is fixedly attached to the closure member and the second end portion is attached to one of the floor or a cross bearer of the open top gondola railcar.