Disclosed is a hopper car gate assembly including a frame configured for attachment to a hopper car body. The frame defines an opening and includes a beam, wherein the beam has a slot formed therein. A stop plate is removably attached to the beam to selectively obstruct the slot. The assembly has a door supported by the frame. A stop block is attached to the door, wherein the stop block is located on the door such that when the door is inserted into the frame the stop block is aligned with the slot. With the stop plate attached to the beam, the stop block engages with the stop plate to define an open position and prevent further movement of the door in the open direction. With the stop plate detached from the beam, the stop block passes through the slot to allow removal of the door from the frame.

Disclosed is a hopper car gate assembly including a frame configured for attachment to a hopper car body. The frame defines an opening and includes a beam, wherein the beam has a slot formed therein. A stop plate is removably attached to the beam to selectively obstruct the slot. The assembly has a door supported by the frame. A stop block is attached to the door, wherein the stop block is located on the door such that when the door is inserted into the frame the stop block is aligned with the slot. With the stop plate attached to the beam, the stop block engages with the stop plate to define an open position and prevent further movement of the door in the open direction. With the stop plate detached from the beam, the stop block passes through the slot to allow removal of the door from the frame.

The invention relates to a sleeper transport vehicle (1) having a loading area (25) which includes a lower supporting loading plane (7) and an upper supporting loading plane (8), wherein in each loading plane (7,8) a guide (10) is arranged in which pallets (9) are guided in the longitudinal direction of the sleeper transport vehicle (1), wherein, at a front side, a transfer area (26) is arranged into which the guides (10) protrude in order to pass along during a working operation pallets (9) with new sleepers (15) in one loading plane (7, 8) to a further sleeper transport vehicle (1) or loading/unloading vehicle (34) arranged at the front side, and to receive pallets with old sleepers (16) in the other loading plane (7, 8). In this, it is provided that in each loading plane (7, 8) a pushing device (11) for pushing the pallets (9) along the guide (10) is designed as at least one circulating chain protruding into the transfer area, and that coupling elements (20) are arranged on the pallets (9) for temporary coupling to the chain.

The invention relates to a sleeper transport vehicle (1) having a loading area (25) which includes a lower supporting loading plane (7) and an upper supporting loading plane (8), wherein in each loading plane (7,8) a guide (10) is arranged in which pallets (9) are guided in the longitudinal direction of the sleeper transport vehicle (1), wherein, at a front side, a transfer area (26) is arranged into which the guides (10) protrude in order to pass along during a working operation pallets (9) with new sleepers (15) in one loading plane (7, 8) to a further sleeper transport vehicle (1) or loading/unloading vehicle (34) arranged at the front side, and to receive pallets with old sleepers (16) in the other loading plane (7, 8). In this, it is provided that in each loading plane (7, 8) a pushing device (11) for pushing the pallets (9) along the guide (10) is designed as at least one circulating chain protruding into the transfer area, and that coupling elements (20) are arranged on the pallets (9) for temporary coupling to the chain.

A safety transition ladder, including a fall prevention enclosure that includes a ladder enclosure section and a platform enclosure section, wherein the platform enclosure section includes a plurality of platforms that are accessible from the ladder enclosure section and an opening of a railcar, and a plurality of connectors that are configured to attach the safety transition ladder to a ladder of the railcar.

A safety transition ladder, including a fall prevention enclosure that includes a ladder enclosure section and a platform enclosure section, wherein the platform enclosure section includes a plurality of platforms that are accessible from the ladder enclosure section and an opening of a railcar, and a plurality of connectors that are configured to attach the safety transition ladder to a ladder of the railcar.

A handhold device of a railcar includes: a frame arranged along a side edge of a specific door opening and connected to a car interior side of a side carshell; a turning mechanism provided at the frame and configured to be turnable about a turning axis extending in an upper-lower direction; and a handle including a base portion connected to the frame through the turning mechanism and a holding portion projecting from the base portion in a direction intersecting with the turning axis. The handle is angularly displaceable about the turning axis between a deployed position where the holding portion is exposed to the specific door opening when viewed from a lateral side of the car body and a storage position where the holding portion is hidden by the side carshell when viewed from the lateral side of the car body.

A handhold device of a railcar includes: a frame arranged along a side edge of a specific door opening and connected to a car interior side of a side carshell; a turning mechanism provided at the frame and configured to be turnable about a turning axis extending in an upper-lower direction; and a handle including a base portion connected to the frame through the turning mechanism and a holding portion projecting from the base portion in a direction intersecting with the turning axis. The handle is angularly displaceable about the turning axis between a deployed position where the holding portion is exposed to the specific door opening when viewed from a lateral side of the car body and a storage position where the holding portion is hidden by the side carshell when viewed from the lateral side of the car body.

Example embodiments relate to implementing self-contained power sources for railcars. A railcar may include an air turbine that comprises a generator. The air turbine converts mechanical energy received from air to electrical energy by way of the generator. In some implementations, the air turbine is selectably coupled to the air brake system of the railcar and can convert mechanical energy received from pressurized air of the air brake system. The railcar can further include a pneumatic valve and a controller that can cause the pneumatic valve to open when the air pressure of the air brake system is at or above a predetermined level. Opening the pneumatic valve provides pressurized air to the air turbine from the air brake system and/or an exhaust pipe. The air turbine is a Wells turbine or a ram air turbine in some examples.

Example embodiments relate to implementing self-contained power sources for railcars. A railcar may include an air turbine that comprises a generator. The air turbine converts mechanical energy received from air to electrical energy by way of the generator. In some implementations, the air turbine is selectably coupled to the air brake system of the railcar and can convert mechanical energy received from pressurized air of the air brake system. The railcar can further include a pneumatic valve and a controller that can cause the pneumatic valve to open when the air pressure of the air brake system is at or above a predetermined level. Opening the pneumatic valve provides pressurized air to the air turbine from the air brake system and/or an exhaust pipe. The air turbine is a Wells turbine or a ram air turbine in some examples.