Abstract: A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by rail car trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. A container support cross member is mounted between the side beams in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. The container support cross member includes a monolithic beam member with a attachment fitting formed at an end thereof. The attachment fitting is connected to a side beam at a moment connection. The remaining end of the cross member is similarly configured and connected to the second side beam. Each end of the cross member has load bearing surface portions which may be used for supporting a corner of a shipping container. The moment connections permit a bending moment to be carried by the cross member between the first and second side beams. A retractable container stop is mounted to each end of the central container support cross member.