Abstract: A freight car is constructed with an undercarriage having a flat cargo floor and with an upright fixed end wall at each end of the floor. A gantry in the form of an arch extends upwardly from the floor substantially centrally between the end walls and a hood support rail extends between the fixed end walls on each side of the floor. The space above the floor is covered by a hood which is of a length to extend between the gantry and one end wall and which includes a roof portion which overlies the gantry and the one end wall and side wall portions which extend downwardly from each side of the roof. The side wall portions carry rollers or casters which are engageable with the rail for supporting the hood for movement along the rail. The hood may be moved when it is in an open position along the rail for example to completely uncover the space between the gantry and one end wall.

Abstract: A truck for high speed rail cars, comprises an H-shape truck frame which included bearings for supporting each end of the axles of each wheel set from longitudinally extending leaf springs which are supported in brackets depending from the frame. In addition, air springs are supported on spring troughs which are supported by connecting rods that are pivotally connected between the frame and the troughs. The air springs on the troughs support a cradle which includes spaced upper and lower beam portions or chord members having one or more spaces enclosed therebetween which form auxiliary air spaces providing an additional air chamber for the air springs which are between the troughs and the upper chord member of the cradle.