Abstract: According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks near each end of the railcar, and a well component supported by and disposed between the trucks. The well component comprises two parallel top chords. A pair of end sections are supported by the trucks and disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section comprises a pair of running boards. Each running board is disposed on one of the top chords of the well component. The end section further comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well component at a first height generally even with the pair of running boards and an end platform disposed near one end of the railcar at a second height. The second height is lower than the first height. The end section also comprises an inclined connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform.

Abstract: A method of shipping automobiles, railcars for shipping automobiles, and methods of manufacturing railcars for shipping automobiles to enable more efficient shipping of automobiles by facilitating conversion of autorack cars between unilevel, bi-level and tri-level configurations, and/or by providing increased load factors.