A tanker railroad car with one or more non-contact sensing assemblies that are configured to sense a level of fluid in a tanker railroad car using one or more non-contact sensors, wherein the non-contact sensing assemblies are configured to communicate with a converter device that translates output signals from the non-contact sensors into readings of the level of fluid in the tanker railroad car in desired output units.

Railroad tank cars are provided that include an inner tank, an outer tank, and tank to tank clearance between the inner tank and the outer tank. Insulation and spacers can be located within the tank to tank clearance. The inner tank can shift within the outer tank, and spacers can crush, under significant force loading, such as impact forces generated during a collision or derailment. The inner tank, insulation, spacers, and outer tank thus form an energy absorbing system that reduces the likelihood that the inner tank will be breached, and that a hazardous material contained therein will be released, under such conditions.

Railroad tank cars are provided that include an inner tank, an outer tank, and tank to tank clearance between the inner tank and the outer tank. Insulation and spacers can be located within the tank to tank clearance. The inner tank can shift within the outer tank, and spacers can crush, under significant force loading, such as impact forces generated during a collision or derailment. The inner tank, insulation, spacers, and outer tank thus form an energy absorbing system that reduces the likelihood that the inner tank will be breached, and that a hazardous material contained therein will be released, under such conditions.

A gusset is capable of providing reinforcement in tank cars, particularly for nozzles in tank cars. A tank car includes a body having a curved wall portion, a nozzle opening formed in the wall, a reinforcing pad disposed on the wall, adjacent to the nozzle, and a gusset configured to support the nozzle. The gusset includes a portion of a cylinder having a predetermined radius. The portion of the cylinder includes a first edge disposed adjacent to a circumferential surface of the nozzle and a second edge disposed adjacent to a circumferential surface of the reinforcing pad, such that an axis of the portion of the cylinder intersects an axis of the nozzle at a predetermined angle. The predetermined radius and the predetermined angle are configured such that an arc of the portion of the cylinder extends less than approximately 180 degrees.

A gusset is capable of providing reinforcement in tank cars, particularly for nozzles in tank cars. A tank car includes a body having a curved wall portion, a nozzle opening formed in the wall, a reinforcing pad disposed on the wall, adjacent to the nozzle, and a gusset configured to support the nozzle. The gusset includes a portion of a cylinder having a predetermined radius. The portion of the cylinder includes a first edge disposed adjacent to a circumferential surface of the nozzle and a second edge disposed adjacent to a circumferential surface of the reinforcing pad, such that an axis of the portion of the cylinder intersects an axis of the nozzle at a predetermined angle. The predetermined radius and the predetermined angle are configured such that an arc of the portion of the cylinder extends less than approximately 180 degrees.

A fuel supply system for mounting to an undercarriage of a locomotive includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure that are disposed below the undercarriage of the locomotive. The first enclosure is configured to extend partway along a length of the undercarriage and is designated to store a first type of fuel therein. The second enclosure is located adjacent to the first enclosure and configured to extend parallelly with respect to the undercarriage. The second enclosure is designated for enclosing components that are configured for supplying a second type of fuel to an engine of the locomotive.

A fuel supply system for mounting to an undercarriage of a locomotive includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure that are disposed below the undercarriage of the locomotive. The first enclosure is configured to extend partway along a length of the undercarriage and is designated to store a first type of fuel therein. The second enclosure is located adjacent to the first enclosure and configured to extend parallelly with respect to the undercarriage. The second enclosure is designated for enclosing components that are configured for supplying a second type of fuel to an engine of the locomotive.

A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).

A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).

A railway tank car having a dis-engageable valve handle assembly configured to selectively engage, lock, and actuate a discharge valve assembly connected to a tank of railway tank car, wherein the dis-engageable valve handle assembly is configured to prevent accidental or inadvertent opening of a valve of the discharge valve assembly in the case of an accident or a derailment of the railway tank car.