Abstract: A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by railcar trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. Container support cross-members are mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. An array of elongate members is provided to divide the opening into smaller spaces and to prevent excessively large openings from being left. The elongate members can have different forms, whether rigid hollow structural sections, rods, or cables. The arrays of elongate members are oriented at oblique angles along the railcar body.

Abstract: A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by railcar trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. Container support cross-members are mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. An array of elongate members is provided to divide the opening into smaller spaces and to prevent excessively large openings from being left. The elongate members can have different forms, whether rigid hollow structural sections, rods, or cables. The arrays of elongate members are oriented at oblique angles along the railcar body.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have external fittings, such as trackside-accessible ladder fittings that permit personnel to climb onto the decks and walkways of the car. Several embodiments of movable ladder assemblies are described that provide an extended or deployed or raised position of a handhold, and a retracted or lowered, or stored position. In other embodiments, the assembly is provided with a compliant member that allows the handhold resiliently to flex when encountered by solid objects such as shipping containers.

Abstract: A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by railcar trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. Container support cross-members are mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. An array of elongate members is provided to divide the opening into smaller spaces and to prevent excessively large openings from being left. The elongate members can have different forms, whether rigid hollow structural sections, rods, or cables. The arrays of elongate members are oriented at oblique angles along the railcar body.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have external fittings, such as trackside-accessible ladder fittings that permit personnel to climb onto the decks and walkways of the car. Several embodiments of movable ladder assemblies are described that provide an extended or deployed or raised position of a handhold, and a retracted or lowered, or stored position. In other embodiments, the assembly is provided with a compliant member that allows the handhold resiliently to flex when encountered by solid objects such as shipping containers.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have external fittings, such as trackside-accessible ladder fittings that permit personnel to climb onto the decks and walkways of the car. Several embodiments of movable ladder assemblies are described that provide an extended or deployed or raised position of a handhold, and a retracted or lowered, or stored position. In other embodiments, the assembly is provided with a compliant member that allows the handhold resiliently to flex when encountered by solid objects such as shipping containers.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have external fittings, such as trackside-accessible ladder fittings that permit personnel to climb onto the decks and walkways of the car. Several embodiments of movable ladder assemblies are described that provide an extended or deployed or raised position of a handhold, and a retracted or lowered, or stored position. In other embodiments, the assembly is provided with a compliant member that allows the handhold resiliently to flex when encountered by solid objects such as shipping containers.

Abstract: A railroad freight car has lifting apparatus at the body bolsters of the car. In addition it has lifting interface members mounted to underlie the side sills near the wheel-well cut-outs of the side beams. The lifting interface members stand downwardly proud of adjacent structure and fasteners heads, such that when lifting apparatus, such as a hydraulic lift, is brought to bear it contacts the lifting interface member first, rather than damaging adjacent structure, be it the side sills themselves, lateral cross-members such as cross-bearers and cross-ties, or diagonal struts. It may also tend to prevent consequent damage to the end bulkheads. The lifting interface members may permit the replacement of wheelsets in the field. The lifting members may be sacrificial, such that they may be replaced when worn or damaged.

Abstract: A railroad freight car has lifting apparatus at the body bolsters of the car. In addition it has lifting interface members mounted to underlie the side sills near the wheel-well cut-outs of the side beams. The lifting interface members stand downwardly proud of adjacent structure and fasteners heads, such that when lifting apparatus, such as a hydraulic lift, is brought to bear it contacts the lifting interface member first, rather than damaging adjacent structure, be it the side sills themselves, lateral cross-members such as cross-bearers and cross-ties, or diagonal struts. It may also tend to prevent consequent damage to the end bulkheads. The lifting interface members may permit the replacement of wheelsets in the field. The lifting members may be sacrificial, such that they may be replaced when worn or damaged.

Abstract: The present invention relates to symmetrical arrangements in multi-unit articulated rail road cars. A multi-unit railroad car has an odd number of railcar units joined end to end by articulated connectors supported by railcar trucks. The railroad car has a transverse centerline. The arrangement of articulated connectors about the transverse centerline is symmetrical.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to symmetrical arrangements in multi-unit articulated rail road cars. A multi-unit railroad car has an odd number of railcar units joined end to end by articulated connectors supported by railcar trucks. The railroad car has a transverse centerline. The arrangement of articulated connectors about the transverse centerline is symmetrical.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A rail road freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.