Abstract: A covered hopper railcar having an aluminum body portion comprising aluminum side, top and end sheets. A side sill is secured to the lower marginal portion of each of the side sheets. The end structure assembly includes a steel center stub sill assembly, a steel shear plate, steel body bolsters, and a pair of spaced-apart steel end stiffener members. The end stiffener members extend between and are secured at their bottom ends to the upper surface of the shear plate, at their top portions to the end sheet and side sheet, and at intermediate portions to the end sheet. The top portion of the end stiffener members is secured to aluminum connector plates, which plates are secured to the end sheet and a side sheet by huckbolts passing therethrough. The intermediate portion of the end stiffener members is huckbolted to an aluminum bracket which in turn is secured to the end sheet.