Abstract: A hopper railcar includes a plurality of hoppers for carrying material laden material, wherein each hopper has a lower discharge chute formed by converging side sheets and end sheets defining a transverse opening; and pivoted transverse door for each transverse opening for selectively opening and closing and closed by a pivoted door, the pivoted door having a pivot axis perpendicular to a longitudinal length of the railcar, and lateral deflectors on lateral sides of the doors with each of the deflectors having a side face extending above an interior facing surface of the doors upon which laden flows with the door in the open position. A method of retrofitting hopper railcars to include deflectors is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cold formed center sill configured for extending substantially the length of a railcar, wherein said center sill includes a top wall, a pair of side sections joined to the top wall by a pair of upper curved sections, bottom sections coupled to the side sections through curved connecting sections, wherein the center sill includes an upwardly extending stiffening longitudinal rib centered within the top wall.

Abstract: A reinforced railcar side stake configured to be mounted to the underframe of a rail car and extend upwardly therefrom, the side stake comprises: a main body which is a U shaped channel that includes a flat back generally parallel to the side wall and a pair of legs extending generally perpendicular to the back and the side wall structures, the legs of the main body having cutouts at a lower portion thereof; a connection plate coupled to the side sill main body within the cutouts wherein the connection plate surface is flush with the upper ends of the legs above the cutouts; and a reinforcing plate within the interior of the main body near the coupling of the side stake to the underframe wherein the reinforcing plate overlaps the area of the connection plate by extending both below and above the cutouts in the legs.

Abstract: A handheld portable solenoid activation device for operating doors of hopper railcars includes a battery power source and is configured for safe single hand operation in either opening or closing arrangements, recharging of the batteries, and isolation of the electrical components from the operator. The device or remote includes a housing configured to be held in one hand of the user; a battery power source within the housing; a pair of leads extending from the housing and selectively coupled to the battery power source and configured to align and connect with the touch plate and ground plate of a railroad car door operating solenoid; and an activator configured for one handed operation by the user, wherein activation when the leads are connecting the touch plate and ground plate will activate the solenoid for opening or closing of the railroad car door.

Abstract: A transverse trough coil car includes a plurality of transverse troughs, a pair of trucks, a center sill supported on the trucks, a pair of side walls extending the length of the car coupled to the center sill, and a plurality of trough forming assemblies. At least one trough includes integrated manually operated adjustable coil stops configured to prevent lateral shifting of coils carried within the trough. At least one trough includes a vertically adjustable trough height. An upper surface of the troughs are coplanar for selective receipt of slabs, and at least one trough includes integrated fixed side stanchions which includes width adjustment members thereon.

Abstract: A railcar comprising: a plurality of truck assemblies, each truck assembly having at least one wheel an underbody supported on said truck assemblies, said underbody including a cold formed center sill extending substantially the length of said railcar, wherein said center sill includes a top wall, a pair of side sections joined to the top wall by a pair of upper curved sections, bottom sections coupled to the side sections through curved connecting sections, wherein the center sill includes an upwardly extending stiffening longitudinal rib centered within the top wall.

Abstract: A reinforced railcar side stake configured to be mounted to the underframe of a rail car and extend upwardly therefrom, the side stake comprises: a main body which is a U shaped channel that includes a flat back generally parallel to the side wall and a pair of legs extending generally perpendicular to the back and the side wall structures, the legs of the main body having cutouts at a lower portion thereof; a connection plate coupled to the side sill main body within the cutouts wherein the connection plate surface is flush with the upper ends of the legs above the cutouts; and a reinforcing plate within the interior of the main body near the coupling of the side stake to the underframe wherein the reinforcing plate overlaps the area of the connection plate by extending both below and above the cutouts in the legs.

Abstract: A gondola railcar cleanout door is configured to be coupled to a side plate of a railcar adjacent a railcar floor wherein the side plate and floor each have an opening therein. The cleanout door includes a frame mountable to the railcar side plate structure, adjacent the side plate structure opening; and a door assembly coupled to the frame and moveable between an open position in which the openings in the floor and the side plate may be used to clean out the interior of the railcar, and a closed position substantially closing the openings in the side plate and the floor, wherein the door assembly includes a door side wall member configured to substantially close the opening in the side plate in the closed position and a door floor member configured to substantially close the opening in the floor in the closed position.

Abstract: A transverse trough coil car includes a plurality of transverse troughs, a pair of trucks, a center sill supported on the trucks, a pair of side walls extending the length of the car coupled to the center sill, and a plurality of trough forming assemblies with each trough forming assembly including at least one floating floor sheet. Each one floating floor sheet is structured to allow for thermal expansion in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the car body and in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car body.

Abstract: A railroad coupler knuckler meets AAR contour requirements and it includes unique external weight reducing features that strategically reduce weight without compromising strength or fatigue life. The design of the railroad knuckle of the present invention allows for formation of the knuckle through forging or coreless casting techniques and thus allows for the use of a better grade of steel compared to AAR Grade E and such forged or cast knuckle will yield much higher fatigue life compared to cast knuckles.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.

Abstract: A transverse trough coil car includes a plurality of transverse troughs, a pair of trucks, a center sill supported on the trucks, a pair of side walls extending the length of the car coupled to the center sill, and a plurality of trough forming assemblies with each trough forming assembly including including at least one floating floor sheet.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures. The rail car includes safety platform and handbrake wherein operator walkway platforms are included with co-planer end walkways and running boards, wherein the running boards are above the top chords of the sidewalls of the well car; and a handbrake operated with a hand wheel is mounted on one side of the railroad well car, which hand wheel extends below the top chords of the side walls of the well car whereby the hand wheel is accessible from the side of the railcar via an operator on the ground.

Abstract: A gondola railcar cleanout door is configured to be coupled to a side plate of a railcar adjacent a railcar floor wherein the side plate and floor each have an opening therein. The cleanout door includes a frame mountable to the railcar side plate structure, adjacent the side plate structure opening; and a door assembly coupled to the frame and moveable between an open position in which the openings in the floor and the side plate may be used to clean out the interior of the railcar, and a closed position substantially closing the openings in the side plate and the floor, wherein the door assembly includes a door side wall member configured to substantially close the opening in the side plate in the closed position and a door floor member configured to substantially close the opening in the floor in the closed position.

Abstract: A railroad open top hopper car comprises a pair of spaced trucks a railcar body, the body comprising a pair of side structures railcar, wherein each including (i) a top chord extending the side structure length, (ii) a plurality of upper side stakes extending from the top chord, (iii) an intermediate side chord extending the side structure length and below the top chord and coupled to the upper side stakes, (iv) a plurality of lower side stakes extending from the intermediate side chord, and (v) a side sill extending the length and below the intermediate side chord and coupled to the lower side stakes. The body forms discharge chutes forming pockets for the body with a plurality of intermediate doors and end doors, wherein the end doors are larger than the intermediate doors. Each door may include a biased door seal.

Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a railcar body supported on the spaced trucks, the body comprising side and end structures on the railcar, and a top chord extending the length of the side structures and the width of the end structures, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface for discharging lading toward the railcar interior. The railcar may further include corner cap, or end cap members, including inwardly sloped lading discharging top surfaces. The railcar may be a hopper railcar having discharge chutes forming body pockets opening into the interior with pneumatic doors having manual override for each door. The railcar may include a nonmetallic touch pad housing secured to the side structures and including a plurality of touch plates mounted in the housing configured for operating selective individual doors and combination of doors.

Abstract: A transverse trough coil car includes a plurality of transverse troughs, a pair of trucks, a center sill supported on the trucks, a pair of side walls extending the length of the car coupled to the center sill, and a plurality of trough forming assemblies. Each trough forming assembly includes a center cross bearer member coupled to the side walls and the center sill, a pair of angled floor plates coupled to the side walls, wherein the floor plates form the longitudinally fore and aft sections of adjacent troughs, and a plurality of floor plate supporting gussets extending between the center cross bearer member and the floor plates. A method of forming the transverse trough coil car body is provided for reducing the fabrication costs, inventory costs and assembly time of the car.

Abstract: A railroad open top hopper car comprises a pair of spaced trucks a railcar body, the body comprising a pair of side structures railcar, wherein each including (i) a top chord extending the side structure length, (ii) a plurality of upper side stakes extending from the top chord, (iii) an intermediate side chord extending the side structure length and below the top chord and coupled to the upper side stakes, (iv) a plurality of lower side stakes extending from the intermediate side chord, and (v) a side sill extending the length and below the intermediate side chord and coupled to the lower side stakes. The body forms discharge chutes forming pockets for the body with a plurality of intermediate doors and end doors, wherein the end doors are larger than the intermediate doors. Each door may include a biased door seal.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures. The rail car includes safety platform and handbrake wherein operator walkway platforms are included with co-planer end walkways and running boards, wherein the running boards are above the top chords of the sidewalls of the well car; and a handbrake operated with a hand wheel is mounted on one side of the railroad well car, which hand wheel extends below the top chords of the side walls of the well car whereby the hand wheel is accessible from the side of the railcar via an operator on the ground.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.