A container apparatus includes a sandwich structure. In another aspect, a cargo-securing or logistics track is attached to a sandwich structure of a container apparatus which employs at least one core sheet including alternating peaks and valleys therein in addition to at least one adhesively bonded outer face sheet. Yet another aspect of a container apparatus includes a depression in a sandwich structure adapted to receive a flush mounted track or post therein. Another aspect of a container apparatus includes a ship-lap and/or bent peripheral flange at a panel-to-panel interface seam.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks near each end of the railcar, and a well component supported by and disposed between the trucks. The well component comprises two parallel top chords. A pair of end sections are supported by the trucks and disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section comprises a pair of running boards. Each running board is disposed on one of the top chords of the well component. The end section further comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well component at a first height generally even with the pair of running boards and an end platform disposed near one end of the railcar at a second height. The second height is lower than the first height. The end section also comprises an inclined connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks near each end of the railcar, and a well component supported by and disposed between the trucks. The well component comprises two parallel top chords. A pair of end sections are supported by the trucks and disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section comprises a pair of running boards. Each running board is disposed on one of the top chords of the well component. The end section further comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well component at a first height generally even with the pair of running boards and an end platform disposed near one end of the railcar at a second height. The second height is lower than the first height. The end section also comprises an inclined connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform.

The invention relates to an inlet closure system for covering an inlet formed in an upper region of a container body The container body may a storage region of a hopper, a hopper vehicle such as a hopper railway wagon or other storage devices. The inlet closure system comprises at least one closure member arranged substantially above the inlet and moveable between a first closed configuration in which the inlet is substantially closed and a second fully open configuration in which the inlet is substantially open, and at least one actuator mounted on an end wall of the container body for moving the closure member. The actuator remains below an upper edge of the end wall when the closure member is in the second fully open configuration. The actuator is arranged in use to act upon the at least one closure member via a linkage, which linkage is arranged for pivotal motion relative to the end wall about a point substantially midway between the side walls. The linkage may comprise a first link and a second link. The second link may have a first and a second limb which meet at a non-straight angle. Preferably, the first limb and/or the second link lie below the upper edge of the end wall when the closure member is in the second fully open configuration. The second limb may lie substantially beyond an inward facing surface of the closure member when the closure member is in the second fully open configuration. If two actuators are arranged to act upon respective closure members, the first links of the linkages are arranged to pivot about a common pivot point. The common pivot point is preferably located on the end wall at a point substantially midway between the sidewalls.

The invention relates to an inlet closure system for covering an inlet formed in an upper region of a container body The container body may a storage region of a hopper, a hopper vehicle such as a hopper railway wagon or other storage devices. The inlet closure system comprises at least one closure member arranged substantially above the inlet and moveable between a first closed configuration in which the inlet is substantially closed and a second fully open configuration in which the inlet is substantially open, and at least one actuator mounted on an end wall of the container body for moving the closure member. The actuator remains below an upper edge of the end wall when the closure member is in the second fully open configuration. The actuator is arranged in use to act upon the at least one closure member via a linkage, which linkage is arranged for pivotal motion relative to the end wall about a point substantially midway between the side walls. The linkage may comprise a first link and a second link. The second link may have a first and a second limb which meet at a non-straight angle. Preferably, the first limb and/or the second link lie below the upper edge of the end wall when the closure member is in the second fully open configuration. The second limb may lie substantially beyond an inward facing surface of the closure member when the closure member is in the second fully open configuration. If two actuators are arranged to act upon respective closure members, the first links of the linkages are arranged to pivot about a common pivot point. The common pivot point is preferably located on the end wall at a point substantially midway between the sidewalls.

An apparatus includes a panel, a fastener, and a cushion. The panel is coupled to a side of a railcar. The fastener engages the panel. A vertical position of the fastener on the panel is adjustable. The cushion is coupled to the fastener. The cushion extends from the side of the railcar towards an interior of the railcar and prevents the side of the railcar from contacting an object stored in the railcar.

A side wall structure of an open wagon includes an upper side beam (1), wherein built-in pillow columns (3) and built-in side columns (4) are arranged on the inner side of the upper side beam (1), the upper side beam (1) is formed by pressing an outer side flanged plate (1a), an upper planar plate (1b), an inner side slope plate (1c) and a lower vertical plate (1d), the upper parts of the built-in pillow columns (3) and the built-in side columns (4) are welded on the inner side slope plate (1c) and the lower vertical plate (1d), built-in small upright columns (5) are respectively arranged on the outer sides of the built-in pillow columns (3), between the built-in pillow columns (3) and the built-in side columns (4) that are adjacent and between every two adjacent built-in side columns (4), and the upper parts of the built-in small upright column (5) are welded on the inner side slope plate (1c) and the lower vertical plate (1d); each side wall plate (2) includes a straight side wall plate (2a) and arc-shaped plates (2b), a part of the lower parts of the built-in pillow columns (3), a part of the lower parts of the built-in side columns (4) and the entire lower parts of the built-in small upright columns (5) are respectively welded on the straight side wall plate (2a), a plurality of arc-shaped plates (2b) are respectively welded between the built-in pillow columns (3) and the built-in side columns (4) that are adjacent and between every two adjacent built-in side columns (4), an upper end of the straight side wall plate (2a) is in butt joint with a lower end of the lower vertical plate (1d), the lower end of the straight side wall plate (2a) is in butt joint with the upper ends of the arc-shaped plates (2b), and the lower ends of the arc-shaped plates (2b) are welded with a wagon body floor.

A side wall structure of an open wagon includes an upper side beam (1), wherein built-in pillow columns (3) and built-in side columns (4) are arranged on the inner side of the upper side beam (1), the upper side beam (1) is formed by pressing an outer side flanged plate (1a), an upper planar plate (1b), an inner side slope plate (1c) and a lower vertical plate (1d), the upper parts of the built-in pillow columns (3) and the built-in side columns (4) are welded on the inner side slope plate (1c) and the lower vertical plate (1d), built-in small upright columns (5) are respectively arranged on the outer sides of the built-in pillow columns (3), between the built-in pillow columns (3) and the built-in side columns (4) that are adjacent and between every two adjacent built-in side columns (4), and the upper parts of the built-in small upright column (5) are welded on the inner side slope plate (1c) and the lower vertical plate (1d); each side wall plate (2) includes a straight side wall plate (2a) and arc-shaped plates (2b), a part of the lower parts of the built-in pillow columns (3), a part of the lower parts of the built-in side columns (4) and the entire lower parts of the built-in small upright columns (5) are respectively welded on the straight side wall plate (2a), a plurality of arc-shaped plates (2b) are respectively welded between the built-in pillow columns (3) and the built-in side columns (4) that are adjacent and between every two adjacent built-in side columns (4), an upper end of the straight side wall plate (2a) is in butt joint with a lower end of the lower vertical plate (1d), the lower end of the straight side wall plate (2a) is in butt joint with the upper ends of the arc-shaped plates (2b), and the lower ends of the arc-shaped plates (2b) are welded with a wagon body floor.

The present invention generally relates to support frames and rail cars comprising first and second side drive plates, first and second cross members connecting the respective ends of the side drive plates, third and fourth cross members connecting the side drive plates at a select distance from the first and second cross members, a coupling assembly situated at the first cross member and adapted to connect another rail car thereto, and first and second diagonal support members connected to the first cross member at an angle sufficient to substantially direct forces from the coupling assembly to the third cross member and side drive plates. The support frames and rail cars may be used for conveying bulk materials on a rail transport system.

A torque box includes a front plate and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is coupled to the front plate such that the bottom surface is orthogonal to front plate and such that front plate extends along the bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a first raised portion configured to fit over a wheel of a railcar.