Abstract: A railway hopper car (200) includes a filament wound fiberglass car body having side walls (202, 204) integral with a roof (208), preferably also formed of a filament wound fiberglass. The fiberglass side walls are connected to longitudinally extending side sills (220, 222) preferably made of steel which extend along each side of the car. The car body includes laterally spaced top sills (226) preferably of fiberglass connected to the fiberglass sides. The car is divided into a plurality of hoppers by transverse bulkheads (244, 246, 248) which are conveniently formed of sandwich panels of wood or wood fibers with fiberglass facings. Hopper slope sheets (258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268) and end slope sheets (304, 306) are also conveniently formed of sandwich panels of wood or wood fibers with fiberglass facings.

Abstract: Large metal plates (120) located on each side of a railway hopper car are used to connect the hopper slope sheets (102, 104) to the car body sides (16) and longitudinally extending side sills (112). The large plates are generally "U" shaped and include legs (124, 126) which extend downwardly from the joint between the transverse bulkheads (14) and the slope sheets downwardly along each of the slope sheets. The plates are connected to the car body sides (16) to a smaller side sill reinforcing plate (121) and the side sill (112) with mechanical fasteners (128, 129) such as Huck bolts. The plate includes flange portions (132, 134) extending inwardly from the car body sides containing openings or slots (132, 134) to receive transversely extending reinforcements (140), preferably I beams (142, 142') which reinforce the hopper slope sheets and which are held in place adjacent, but spaced from, the car body sides and side sill with gussets (146) integrally connected to the large plates.

Abstract: Bulkhead supports (18) are integrally connected to opposite side portions of a filament wound hopper car body (16). The bulkhead supports include longitudinally spaced extensions (20, 22) extending inwardly from the car body sides. The transverse bulkheads (14) are located within the extensions on either side of the car with longitudinal clearance (31). Resilient bulkhead cushioning members (32) are located between the bulkhead and each extension. The resilient bulkhead cushioning members extend only a short distance transversely to reduce or substantially eliminate the introduction of bending moments into the car body sides when the transverse bulkheads are subjected to lading loads.

Abstract: A railroad car (12) has a set (B1) of brakes acting on wheels (W1) at one end of the car and a set (B2) of brakes acting on wheels (W2) at the opposite end of the car. A mechanism (38) for applying a brake force produced by operation of a hand brake (HB) includes a force splitter (40) interconnected with the hand brake and one set (B1) of wheels to transmit the brake force to this set of brakes. A first torque unit (54) is interconnected with the force splitter to transfer the brake force from one end of the car to the other. A second torque unit (74) is interconnected with the first torque unit and the other set (B2) of brakes to transmit the brake force to this other set of brakes. Application of both sets of brakes in response to operation of the hand brake prevents movement of the car.

Abstract: An articulated truck center connection of known construction joins extensions extending in opposite directions from the transverse center of adjacent car end portions to the center plate of a truck supporting the adjacent ends of the cars. A pair of side bearings are mounted on the truck bolster on opposite sides of the articulated center connection. Each side bearing includes a rectangular channel or tube mounted on the truck and a first bearing surface which receives a first extension from one adjacent car end. The first extension is free to slide horizontally on the first bearing. The channel or tube extends above the first bearing surface and a second extension from the other adjacent car includes a depending bearing member which rests upon and is supported by the first bearing member. A pivot allows the second car end to rotate vertically about the center connection as the cars transverse vertical inclines.

Abstract: A seal is provided between an outlet mounting flange and a hopper mounting flange. The seal extends in-board of the inner hopper wall and includes a projection extending upwardly which engages the hopper wall. The seal further includes a tapered portion which extends inwardly and downwardly from the projection. Thus lading and pressure in the outlet act to urge the projection into engagement with the vertical wall and the tapered portion into engagement with its supporting surface. In one embodiment a void space is located below the projection which is compressed in assembly to create a tight fit of the seal against the hopper wall. In another embodiment an outer flange portion is provided which extends around the inner end of the hopper mounting flange to aid in positioning the seal for assembly.