A foldable handhold assembly for attachment to a railroad flatcar includes a handhold that has a pair of side rails connected with a horizontal grab bar. A pair of brackets, which each have a mounting surface conforming to the shape of the flatcar sill. The brackets each have a hinge that rotatably couples to the proximate end of one of the side rail, which enables the handhold to rotate about the hinges between a deployed position where the grab bar extends above the flatcar deck and a stowed position where the handhold extends below the flatcar deck. One of the brackets also has latch aligned to selectively retain the handhold at the deployed position.

A railcar includes a support structure and a reinforcement device. The support structure extends across a length of the railcar. The reinforcement device is coupled to the support structure. The reinforcement device includes a first surface defining a first cavity that extends through the first surface and a second surface coupled substantially orthogonal to the first surface. The second surface has substantially the same length as the first surface.

A railcar includes a support structure and a reinforcement device. The support structure extends across a length of the railcar. The reinforcement device is coupled to the support structure. The reinforcement device includes a first surface defining a first cavity that extends through the first surface and a second surface coupled substantially orthogonal to the first surface. The second surface has substantially the same length as the first surface.

A vehicle sub-frame structure for affixation to a vehicle frame as a support platform for a vehicle body comprises a frame skeleton of interconnected longitudinal and transverse frame members defining internal frame cavities therebetween. Top and bottom outward panels are connected to upper and lower sides of the frame skeleton enclosing the internal frame cavities. A plurality of bracing members are rigidly affixed within each internal frame cavity extending longitudinally and transversely between the frame members and vertically between the top and bottom outward panels to resist deformation of the frame members and the outward panels under forces and loads applied to the sub-frame structure. The bracing members include a plurality of mirror image V-shaped brace panels which form an X-shaped configuration between opposing corners within each frame cavity.

A gondola car includes top chord sections; a pair of end walls and sidewalls coupled to the top chord structure, wherein each sidewall includes at least one side sheet a plurality of side stakes and side sill; and an underframe construction including a center sill running the length of the car, bolsters configured to be above truck assemblies and coupled to the center sill and a plurality of lateral I-Beam cross bearers that extend from the center sill toward and stopping short of the inside of the side sheet, and wherein the cross bearers include vertical connection plates configures for coupling to side stakes which are positioned between the bolsters, and longitudinal stringers extending from select ones of the cross bearers to one of the bolsters and longitudinal stringers extending from each bolster to one end wall structure of the pair of end walls.

A gondola car includes top chord sections; a pair of end walls and sidewalls coupled to the top chord structure, wherein each sidewall includes at least one side sheet a plurality of side stakes and side sill; and an underframe construction including a center sill running the length of the car, bolsters configured to be above truck assemblies and coupled to the center sill and a plurality of lateral I-Beam cross bearers that extend from the center sill toward and stopping short of the inside of the side sheet, and wherein the cross bearers include vertical connection plates configures for coupling to side stakes which are positioned between the bolsters, and longitudinal stringers extending from select ones of the cross bearers to one of the bolsters and longitudinal stringers extending from each bolster to one end wall structure of the pair of end walls.

A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by railcar trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. Container support cross-members are mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. An array of elongate members is provided to divide the opening into smaller spaces and to prevent excessively large openings from being left. The elongate members can have different forms, whether rigid hollow structural sections, rods, or cables. The arrays of elongate members are oriented at oblique angles along the railcar body.

A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by railcar trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. Container support cross-members are mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. An array of elongate members is provided to divide the opening into smaller spaces and to prevent excessively large openings from being left. The elongate members can have different forms, whether rigid hollow structural sections, rods, or cables. The arrays of elongate members are oriented at oblique angles along the railcar body.

A foldable handhold assembly for attachment to a railroad flatcar includes a handhold that has a pair of side rails connected with a horizontal grab bar. A pair of brackets, which each have a mounting surface conforming to the shape of the flatcar sill. The brackets each have a hinge that rotatably couples to the proximate end of one of the side rail, which enables the handhold to rotate about the hinges between a deployed position where the grab bar extends above the flatcar deck and a stowed position where the handhold extends below the flatcar deck. One of the brackets also has latch aligned to selectively retain the handhold at the deployed position.

A foldable handhold assembly for attachment to a railroad flatcar includes a handhold that has a pair of side rails connected with a horizontal grab bar. A pair of brackets, which each have a mounting surface conforming to the shape of the flatcar sill. The brackets each have a hinge that rotatably couples to the proximate end of one of the side rail, which enables the handhold to rotate about the hinges between a deployed position where the grab bar extends above the flatcar deck and a stowed position where the handhold extends below the flatcar deck. One of the brackets also has latch aligned to selectively retain the handhold at the deployed position.