Abstract: Center beam railroad car having a top chord, a parallel center sill below the top chord, columns joining the top chord and center sill, and diagonal tension members connecting the upper joint between one column and the top chord to the lower joint between another column and the center sill. In one embodiment, the tension member is pivotally secured at each end to the respective upper and lower joints, preventing fatigue failure of the tension member where it is secured to the joints. In another embodiment, at least one end of the tension member is secured to a joint between one end of a column and the center sill or top chord only after the joints are defined by assembling and joining the top chord, center sill, and columns. This method allows the tension members to be installed and to function substantially without tension in the unloaded, unused car and to accept tension loads when the car is loaded and operated.

Abstract: A railroad car for transporting double stacked shipping containers capable of supporting top containers of at least two different lengths against longitudinal and lateral movement comprising a car which supports a lower container, each end of the car body having a bulkhead structure which includes a lateral end wall and a pair of side walls extending longitudinally inwardly from the end wall, each side wall of a pair of such walls having a container restraining member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis from a stored position where it does not reduce the clearance between opposing side walls to an operating position where it at least projects laterally inwardly of the side wall to be positioned adjacent a vertical end corner of a top container, a rotatable shaft extending laterally across the car body and having a handle at each end for manual rotation of the shaft from about track grade, and drive means interconnecting the shaft and a container restraining member on each side wall whereby rotation of

Abstract: A railroad car for carrying a container comprising a car body supported by rail trucks adapted for movement over a railroad; the car body having opposing side walls and an end wall near each end connected to the side walls with said side walls and end walls defining a well in which a container can be received and supported; and guides mounted along each side wall for effectively reducing the width of the well space so as to center in the well a container having a width significantly less than the well width so as to limit sideward movement of the container in the well when the car rocks.

Abstract: A railroad car capable of carrying stacked containers which form stacks of different lengths comprising a car body having opposing car ends supported by rail trucks adapted for movement over a railroad; the car body having opposing side walls and an end wall near each end connected to the side walls with the side walls and end walls defining a well in which a container can be received; supports for the bottom of a container, when in the well; with each side wall including a side top chord member; and walkway boards on top of each side top chord member along each end of the well and accessible from the adjoining car end.

Abstract: A railway car wheel profilometer accurately transcribes the profile of the wheel treads onto a removable card for permanent record and later analysis. The device also measures the diameter of the wheel.

Abstract: A discharge gate arrangement for railroad hopper cars having longitudinally extending discharge openings arranged in a horizontal plane beneath the hopper. Gate members arranged in pairs swing in opposite directions transversely of the car. Each gate member is pivotally hung and attached to an operating mechanism that includes a transversely extending shaft having two oppositely threaded portions. The operating mechanism includes split nuts located on the threaded shaft portions with attached links connected to the gate members in order that rotation of the shaft in one direction moves the split nuts in opposite directions and causes the cooperating gates to open and close simultaneously.

Abstract: An open top railway hopper car is provided with longitudinal center dump discharge openings closed by hinged clam shell type of doors. The doors include an arm and linkage arrangement pivoted to the hopper car structure for continually urging the doors to a closed position. The arm and linkage arrangement is opened by means of side of track cams. Locking for each of the doors is provided by means of a locking pawl engaging stops provided on door brackets which preclude opening of the doors during transport. Opening actuation of the arm and linkage arrangement provides for initial displacement of the locking pawls thereby permitting the doors to continue to their open position.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for a hopper door includes a rotatable latch which is pivotally connected to rotate between open and closed positions. The latch is actuated by a link and bell crank lever arrangement which also locks the latch closed in an over-center position. The bell crank lever is rotated by a linkage arrangement and biasing means on the bell crank lever holds the same in an over-center position.

Abstract: A railway car door arrangement is provided with a lock mechanism positioned toward the upper ends of the doors so as to be remote from the track level and thus will discourage pilferage. The mechanism includes a hasp which is pivotally mounted for swinging movement on a projecting portion of a door and which is engageable with a keeper socket supported either on an adjacent door, in the case of a two-door arrangement, or on the door frame of the box car side wall. The keeper includes a socket for receiving an end portion of a hasp and suitable locking projections are adapted to receive a cable or lock for further locking the hasp in closed position.

Abstract: A railway box car side includes a door opening having a sliding door arrangement with a conventional hasp locking device provided at the lower portions of the door so as to be readily accessible to a person standing at track level. The door arrangement, which may be of a single or double door type, includes an anti-pilferage lock which is positioned near the upper ends of the doors so as to be relatively inaccessible except when the box car has arrived at a loading platform. The anti-pilferage lock includes a keeper positioned on one of the doors in a two door arrangement or the said keeper is positioned on the door post of the car opening in a single door arrangement. The keeper includes an outwardly projecting hook-shaped wall arrangement having a vertical recess. A latch support is positioned on one of the doors and includes a vertical guideway in which a latch device provided with an arm and slide member is slidingly positioned.

Abstract: An anti-pilferage locking device for securing two confronting edges of an outer door structure in a railway car against longitudinal relative movement having a hasp pivotally secured to the outer surface of the car door structure adjacent to one of the confronting edges, a keeper secured to the outer surface of the car adjacent the opposite confronting edge of the car door structure, a cam vertically spaced from the keeper and pivotally secured to the outer surface adjacent said opposite confronting edge and above said keeper, and an anti-pilferage sealing means connecting with the cam and the keeper and trapping the hasp, the lower horizontal edge of the cam being flat at one end and curved at the other to control cam rotation relative to the hasp, the keeper having an outer vertical lip entrapping the hasp which entraps said lower edge of the cam; whereby, the hasp is receivably entrained on the keeper, the cam limits vertical movement of the hasp, and the sealing means is cooperatively received through the