Abstract: A cover for open top railcars may be alternatively locked into place over the railcar top opening, or rotated on hinges to either side of the railcar to provide access to the entire top of the railcar. The cover may be compressed against either side of the railcar to allow the car to move between structural or other elements of loading or unloading facilities.

Abstract: A slidable cover assembly for merchandise carrying vehicle platforms is described. The cover assembly comprises a pair of opposed end support frames and a plurality of intermediate frames, each having a top carriage for displacement on a central horizontal top center beam member secured to the platform. Each end support frame and intermediate frames have a top tapered roof truss structure and opposed depending side members. The side members have a side rail engaging carriage at a lower end thereof for displaceable support engagement with a side rail secured to opposed sides of the platform. A tarp is secured to the end support frames and intermediate frames and displaceable therewith from a collapsed condition to an extended condition. Tarp displacement mechanisms are provided to displace the tarp side walls outwardly of the intermediate frames when the frames are displaced closer to one another from the extended condition to the collapsed condition.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable cover for use on gondola railroad cars, preferably provided as a kit for retrofitting existing cars, including elongated runners for attaching to the top of longitudinal walls of the gondola railroad cars, the runners including at east one slidable surface, for supporting and permitting transport over the surface of a plurality of tarp supports, which extend across the lateral opening between the sidewalls of the gondola railroad car. The supports are adapted and configured to slide over the runners while enclosing an edge of the runner so as to engage the runner and retain the vertical position and orientation of the supports during transposition across the surface of the runners.