According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a first well component supported by a first railcar truck and a second railcar truck. The first well component is disposed between the first railcar truck and the second railcar truck. The length of the first well component is restricted to transport an intermodal shipping container no longer than twenty feet in length. In particular embodiments, the first well component is configured to transport a double stack of twenty-foot intermodal shipping containers. Each twenty-foot shipping container of the double stack may be loaded to maximum weight of 67,000 pounds. Particular embodiments include an articulated railcar with two or more twenty-foot well components.

A rain-guard device for shipping is provided that can restrain water from seeping from an end part of the lid member. A rain-guard device for shipping 20 includes a rail 19, which is placed on a sliding hatch cover 11, an on-board chute 22, which is provided in the rail 19 in a travelable manner, which covers part of a hatch opening 13, and which, furthermore, supplies cargo from a shiploader 1 into the hold 7, and a lid member 23 to cover the rest of the hatch opening 13. The lid member 23 is formed in an arch shape in cross section. A waterproof seal 92 for restraining water from seeping into the lid member 23 is provided at an end part of the lid member 23 opposite to the ship chute 22 among end parts of the lid member 23.

An apparatus to support a proppant container includes a frame to receive and support the proppant container. The frame has a top surface that receives and positions the proppant container in an elevated position. The apparatus also includes a box guide assembly positioned on the top surface a box guide assembly connected to the top surface of the frame for defining a cradle section having four corners. The box guide assembly including a box guide positioned at each of the corners. Each box guide has a corner member extending upwardly from the top surface along a peripheral edge of the frame and a guide member extending adjacent the corner member. The guide member include an inclined face for aligning the proppant container in the cradle section. The box guide assembly guides the proppant container into the cradle section when loaded onto the frame in the elevated position.

A system is configured to move a group of containers including at least five containers simultaneously between a vehicle and a platform. The system includes a container support frame configured to support the group of containers, at least one hoist, and a conveyor. The at least one hoist is configured to raise and lower the container support frame and the containers when the containers are secured to the container support frame. The conveyor is configured to move the container support frame and the containers between the vehicle and the platform.

A system is configured to move a group of containers including at least five containers simultaneously between a vehicle and a platform. The system includes a container support frame configured to support the group of containers, at least one hoist, and a conveyor. The at least one hoist is configured to raise and lower the container support frame and the containers when the containers are secured to the container support frame. The conveyor is configured to move the container support frame and the containers between the vehicle and the platform.

A method and system for trans-loading solid particulates from a hopper to a storage container, by clamping a trough to a discharge gate of the hopper, the trough having an open top, sides, and a bottom, a vacuum pipe extending into the trough, and at least one aerator located on the trough, to which is provided an aerating gas. The method further comprises at least partially evacuating the storage container to cause at least a partial vacuum therein and drawing a vacuum through a conveyor hose connected to the trough.

In a method or apparatus for transporting bulk goods by rail cars on a rail network to a rail car handling terminal where the handling terminal includes a loading and/or unloading system with a metering device for measuring an amount of the bulk goods loaded or unloaded. At the terminal there is a center control data hub connecting to a plurality of portable hand held field computers and a communication system for communication with the rail network to obtain a Car Location Message (CLM), a way bill and mechanical data for each of the rail cars. The center control hub generates data indicating a current stage of each of the railcars and a signal indicative that a rail car can be transferred from one stage to another stage to the portable computers to control transfer of the rail car from one stage to the next stage.

A gantry crane for containers with at least one raised horizontal beam, comprising ship-side spreaders supported on a first section of said horizontal beam, container land-side spreaders supported on a second section of said horizontal beam, and a horizontal transport carriage, mounted displaceably along the beam so that it is susceptible to being placed under the containers lifted by the ship-side spreaders, and arranged to support the containers and displace them to a position below the land-side spreaders, said horizontal transport carriage comprising anchoring means for separably anchoring the containers.

An apparatus and method transfer a shipping container from a first dockside unloaded position to a second transporting position. A horse-and-saddle assembly is mounted on a pair of transversely spaced rails, and includes a horse member with roller mechanisms cooperating with the rails. A saddle member includes a mounting frame capable of moving transversely upon the horse member. The saddle member is configured to carry the shipping container mounted thereon. A carrier suspended from an overhead monorail is movable along a track extending from the monorail. Once deposited in the saddle member mounting frame, the shipping container in the mounting frame is urged to a position from which lifting devices mounted onto the saddle frame raises the shipping container from the mounting frame. The shipping container is carried while suspended from the overhead monorail carrier to a desired transfer or storage location.

An overhead transport system includes a suspended railway and a motorized carrier configured to travel along the suspended railway. The motorized carrier includes a motorized trolley configured to move the motorized carrier along the suspended railway, chassis/beam configured to carry an object below the motorized trolley, and a bumper and deflection system configured to prevent the object from contacting another object.