Abstract: A mechanism for moving a sliding door of a railway car is capable of moving the sliding door between a first position in which the sliding door is supported on the body of the railway car and closes an opening in the railway car body and a second position in which the sliding door is supported by the mechanism and is moveable along the railway car body so that cargo may be loaded and unloaded into and out of the opening in the railway car. The mechanism includes a crank and a roller rotatably mounted on the crank. The crank is rotatably mounted to the sliding door about an axis of rotation which allows movement of the roller through an opening in the bottom portion of the sliding door while limiting lateral movement of the crank which allows for clearance between the roller and the opening when the roller moves through the opening in the sliding door. An actuating member is provided and is rotatably mounted on the sliding door about an axis. The actuating member has at least one lug thereon.