Abstract: A bolster for use in a railroad car truck has spring seat areas at the outer ends and a generally central section intermediate the spring seat areas and generally of substantially greater depth than the spring seat areas. A vertical reinforcing rib extends from the central section into the spring seat areas. The central section has slanted bottom walls which merge with the bottom walls of the spring seat areas. The spring seat areas and central section are subject to loading in opposite vertical directions thereby creating areas of localized bending stress at the junction of the spring seat bottom walls and the central section slanted bottom walls. The improvement of the present invention is specific to means for reducing such localized bending stress and includes vertical reinforcing rib means extending from the spring seat areas into the central section and being positioned on opposite sides of the vertical reinforcing rib.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of railroad car truck components with high wear resistant qualities involves an alloy of specific composition, dumping from the sand mold above a specific temperature and being allowed to cool in air, resulting in an "as cast" acicular microstructure having very little amounts of Pearlite and carbides. This process eliminates the heat treating, quenching and draw operations normally associated with the production of wear resistant, acicular castings.

Abstract: A railroad car bolster with provision for elastomeric cushions or pads on each side of the bolster center plate. The pads are mounted in retainers. The side walls of the retainers extend upwardly from the bolster and have substantially continuous uninterrupted upper surfaces. The pads positioned within the retainers have elongated slots which extend along and are slightly spaced from the retainer side walls. Fastening members, in the form of angles, are welded to each retainer side wall, and have a portion thereof which extends along the flat upper surface of the side wall and into the pad slots to thereby secure the pads within the retainers.