Abstract: A joint connecting a container corner support assembly to a body bolster and a connecting assembly portion of an end of a container well unit in connection with shortening a container well of a railroad freight car intended for carrying an intermodal freight container. A connector member is welded into position, between a transverse gusset plate of a container corner support assembly and a closure plate of a connecting assembly, to transmit forces between the gusset plate and the connecting assembly associated with a body bolster in an end of the container well unit.

Abstract: A railroad freight car that may include multiple units, including a container well for carrying intermodal freight containers in the body of at least one unit and with the body including container supports, located in the corners of the container well, that include a cast metal base welded to a side sill of the car. A container support tower also welded to the side sill extends upward from the base and may also be of cast metal.

Abstract: A railroad freight car that may include multiple units, the body of at least one unit including a container well for carrying intermodal freight containers, the body including a pair of side sills generally of closed box beam configuration with holes and reinforcing rings and with longitudinally extending reinforcing members in the top or bottom, or both, of the beams. The ends of the longitudinally extending reinforcing members are tapered and have their extremities attached to a portion of a side sill web spaced apart from the extreme top or bottom members of the beam.

Abstract: A head brace and a method for attaching a stub sill to a tank of a railroad tank car by the use of such a head brace. A stub sill includes side plates having ears that extend upward to support the tank near where the head of the tank is attached, and a head brace is welded to the side plates and to the head of the tank in a weld joint that can be continuous along the head brace from the ears of the side plate to the center of the head brace. Doublers may be provided on the sill where the head brace is welded to the side plates.

Abstract: A railroad freight car of the center beam type, in which the upright center beam has a top chord interconnected with a bulkhead at each end of the body of the car, and spaced-apart upright columns and elongate diagonal structural members interconnect the top chord with the center sill of the car body. A top chord may be of formed plate including longitudinal stiffening ridges and laterally outer reinforcing parts.

Abstract: A railroad freight car that may include multiple units, the body of at least one unit including a container well for carrying intermodal freight containers, the body including a pair of side sills generally of closed box beam configuration with holes and reinforcing rings and with longitudinally extending reinforcing members in the top or bottom, or both, of the beams. The ends of the longitudinally extending reinforcing members are tapered and have their extremities attached to a portion of a side sill web spaced apart from the extreme top or bottom members of the beam.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car including a cover for the lateral surfaces of the top chord of the center beam to reduce cargo damage, and wherein a bottom plate of a center sill of the car extends laterally as an inboard portion of a cargo-carrying floor.

Abstract: A lightweight hopper car that includes one or more reinforcing members at specified locations, so that the hopper car has both a carrying capacity and a structural strength comparable to those of existing, heavier hopper cars. Specifically, the present application discloses that the hopper car may be reinforced at one or more locations including (i) at selective intersections between the center sill and slope sheets of cargo wells; (ii) between side slope sheets of adjacent cargo wells; (iii) at the junction between the side sheets and end slope sheets of the hopper car; and (iv) along the end combing seal between opposed carlines, if the hopper car is covered. In addition, the present application discloses a novel means of reinforcing side sheets of a rail car, including hopper cars, against the warping that commonly occurs when welding the side sheets at the car is fabricated.

Abstract: A railroad freight car of the center beam type, in which the upright center beam has a top chord interconnected with a bulkhead at each end of the body of the car, and spaced-apart upright columns and elongate diagonal structural members interconnect the top chord with the center sill of the car body. A top chord may be of formed plate including longitudinal stiffening ridges and laterally outer reinforcing parts.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car including a cover for the lateral surfaces of the top chord of the center beam to reduce cargo damage.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car including a cover for the lateral surfaces of the top chord of the center beam to reduce cargo damage.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car including a cover for the lateral surfaces of the top chord of the center beam to reduce cargo damage.

Abstract: A multi-unit railroad freight car and a container-carrying bridge unit for such a car. The bridge unit extends between and is carried on the adjacent body bolsters of both of a pair of drawbar-connected well units designed for carrying stacked cargo containers. The bridge unit includes a center sill, a transverse bolster at each end of the center sill, and container-supporting arms extending from the bolsters and above the body bolsters of the adjacent container well units to support a cargo container.

Abstract: A multi-unit railroad freight car and a container-carrying bridge unit for such a car. The bridge unit extends between and is carried on the adjacent body bolsters of both of a pair of drawbar-connected well units designed for carrying stacked cargo containers. The bridge unit includes a center sill, a transverse bolster at each end of the center sill, and container-supporting arms extending from the bolsters and above the body bolsters of the adjacent container well units to support a cargo container.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car with a depressed cargo-carrying floor located on each side of the center beam in an intermediate portion of the car located between respective end portions of the car having higher floors. A bottom plate of the center sill in the intermediate portion of the car is included as a part of the depressed cargo-carrying floor, and crossbearers support floor sheets that extend laterally outward. Side surfaces of the center sill and columns of the center beam are coplanar.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car including a cover for the lateral surfaces of the top chord of the center beam to reduce cargo damage.

Abstract: A center partition or center beam railroad freight car with a bulkhead at each end and a depressed cargo-carrying floor located on each side of the center beam in an intermediate portion of the car located between respective end portions of the car having higher floors. A wide bottom plate of the center sill in the intermediate portion of the car is included as a part of the depressed cargo-carrying floor, and crossbearers are attached to the bottom of the center sill, extending laterally to side sills in the intermediate section of the car to support floor sheets that extend laterally outward from the bottom plate of the center sill. Longitudinal stringers are attached to the underside of the bottom plate of the center sill between the crossbearers. A body bolster has arms that extend diagonally upward and outward to side sills supporting the higher floors in the end portions of the car.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car with a depressed cargo-carrying floor located on each side of the center beam in an intermediate portion of the car located between respective end portions of the car having higher floors. A bottom plate of the center sill in the intermediate portion of the car is included as a part of the depressed cargo-carrying floor, and crossbearers support floor sheets that extend laterally outward. Side surfaces of the center sill and columns of the center beam are coplanar.

Abstract: A center partition or center beam railroad freight car with a bulkhead at each end and a depressed cargo-carrying floor located on each side of the center beam in an intermediate portion of the car located between respective end portions of the car having higher floors. A wide bottom plate of the center sill in the intermediate portion of the car is included as a part of the depressed cargo-carrying floor, and crossbearers are attached to the bottom of the center sill, extending laterally to side sills in the intermediate section of the car to support floor sheets that extend laterally outward from the bottom plate of the center sill. Longitudinal stringers are attached to the underside of the bottom plate of the center sill between the crossbearers. A body bolster has arms that extend diagonally upward and outward to side sills supporting the higher floors in the end portions of the car.

Abstract: A structural assembly defining a corner of a doorway for a railway boxcar in which a square-cornered doorway opening is provided and yet stress concentrations are avoided. A corner connecting member interconnects upright and horizontal doorway frame structures, but instead of including an angular intersection of vertical and horizontal surfaces defining the doorway opening, the corner member includes an arcuate concave connecting surface extending between the upright and horizontal surfaces defining the doorway opening. The arcuate concave connecting surface is located outside the doorway opening and extends around the location where the vertical and horizontal surfaces would intersect, so that there is no angular intersection to concentrate stresses. An insert fits matingly along the arcuate concave connecting surface and has an inside corner defined by surfaces that are located to extend the vertical and horizontal surfaces and define the corner of the doorway opening.