Abstract: A method of modification of a railcar to form a modified railcar can be described as comprising the steps of i) providing an existing aluminum body steel underframe donor railcar supported on a pair of trucks; ii) removing a donor car floor construction including either a) hopper discharge gates, and the outside hopper sheets, lower hopper floor and the partition floors forming the hopper chutes of the hopper style donor railcar, or b) the floor sheets and tubs of the gondola style donor cars; iii) forming a floor construction of the modified railcar which includes one of a) triple hopper independent transverse door floor construction, b) quad hopper independent transverse door floor construction, c) dual hopper independent longitudinal door floor construction, or d) flat bottom gondola floor construction, and iv) attaching the floor construction to the car to form the modified railcar.

Abstract: A method of modification of a railcar to form a modified railcar can be described as comprising the steps of i) providing an existing small cube covered hopper donor railcar supported on a pair of trucks; ii) removing a donor car floor construction including hopper discharge gates, and the outside hopper sheets, lower hopper floor and the partition floor forming the hopper chutes of the donor railcar; iii) forming a floor construction of the modified railcar which includes one of a) triple hopper independent transverse door floor construction, b) dual hopper independent longitudinal door floor construction, c) flat bottom gondola floor construction, d) dual hopper ballast car floor construction, and e) twin hopper taconite ore car floor construction, and iv) attaching the floor construction to the car to form the modified railcar.

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: Rail car modularized modification programs altering the nature of the center sill in the modified railcar yield a greater variety of car types that can be placed into service. The present invention provides method of modification of a railcar to form a modified railcar comprising the steps of: providing an existing railcar with a center sill design of one of i) a stub sill and ii) a through sill; removing an upper portion of the existing railcar; forming an underframe construction including bolsters configured to be above truck assemblies and coupled to the center sill design, and a center sill design of one of i) a stub sill ii) a through sill, and iii) a fish-belly center sill; forming an upper body of the modified railcar; and attaching the upper body of the modified railcar to the underframe construction.

Abstract: A sand car modification program including removing a center section at cut-lines between the trucks and maintaining two repurposed end sections for the modified railcar. Each end section including a center sill section, side sill sections; top chord sections, side wall sections, and a sloped end floor section extending between the pair of side wall sections and extending down at least to the pair of side sill sections. An underframe construction of the modified railcar is formed between the repurposed end sections, including a center sill construction coupled to the end section center sill sections, a plurality of hopper gate openings, and at least one hopper divider. A pair of sidewall constructions are formed between the end sections, each including a side sill section, a top chord section, and a side wall section.

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 railcar modification comprises a pair of spaced trucks; a multiple bay hopper railcar body on the pair of trucks; a hopper floor in the railcar body, wherein each bay of the hopper railcar body has hoppers formed of sloped floor sheets having a hopper floor slope; a plurality of gate adaptors, each gate adapter coupled to the floor sheets of a hopper, wherein the gate adapter includes a plurality of floor sheet panels, a plurality of transition panels and a plurality of gate panels, and wherein a difference in slope angles between the floor sheet panels, transition panels and gate panels combine to form a vertical offset; and a plurality of gates, each gate coupled to one gate adapter.

Abstract: A covered hopper railcar includes a pair of spaced trucks; a three bay covered hopper railcar body on the pair of trucks; and a partition structure separating each bay from an adjacent bay, wherein each partition structure is extending vertically from sloped floor sheets to a roof structure and extending horizontally between side walls of the railcar body, wherein each partition includes a pair of horizontal ribs.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 open top hopper car comprises a pair of spaced trucks supporting 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 open top hopper car comprises a pair of spaced trucks supporting 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.