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 railcar includes a floor structure including: an underframe including a pair of side sills and a plurality of cross beams arranged between the pair of side sills; a plurality of floor panel receivers located above the cross beams, arranged with gaps in a car width direction, extending along the cross beams, and fixed to the cross beams; one or more seat receivers extending through the gaps in a car longitudinal direction and fixed to the cross beams; and floor panels covering substantially entire surfaces of upper portions of the floor panel receivers and an upper portion(s) of the one or more seat receivers from above and supported by the cross beams through the floor panel receivers and the one or more seat receivers.

An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged. A method for releasably coupling two railcars to each other is also disclosed.

An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged. A method for releasably coupling two railcars to each other is also disclosed.

A modular railcar includes a modular top system that is configured to hold one or more coils of material, and a railcar underframe that supports the modular top system. The modular top system includes a pair of side sills and one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills. Each side sill of the pair of side sills extends a longitudinal length of the modular top system. Each trough of the one or more troughs is configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material. The underframe includes one or more coupling apparatuses that are configured to detachably engage the modular top system when the modular top system is positioned on top of the underframe.

A method of modification of a railcar which includes providing an existing railcar with a cold formed center sill; removing an upper portion of the railcar; Cutting and splicing the center sill; Forming an upper railcar body having top chord sections and a pair of end walls and side walls coupled to the top chord structure, wherein each sidewall includes a side sheet, a plurality of side stakes and side sill; Forming an underframe construction including the spliced center sill, 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 Coupling the upper body to the underframe.

A method of modification of a railcar which includes providing an existing railcar with a cold formed center sill; removing an upper portion of the railcar; Cutting and splicing the center sill; Forming an upper railcar body having top chord sections and a pair of end walls and side walls coupled to the top chord structure, wherein each sidewall includes a side sheet, a plurality of side stakes and side sill; Forming an underframe construction including the spliced center sill, 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 Coupling the upper body to the underframe.

A casting or casting components for a modification of a railcar includes at least one of i) a splice casting for a roll formed railcar center sill having a center section with the same profile as the exterior of the rolled formed railcar center sill with two end sections that telescope into the interior of spliced center sill sections, wherein the splice casting as a total weight is less than 100 LBS, and ii) a cast transition casting configured for positioning between a cold formed center sill and a draft arm of a railcar wherein the cast transition casting is less than 75 LBS.

A casting or casting components for a modification of a railcar includes at least one of i) a splice casting for a roll formed railcar center sill having a center section with the same profile as the exterior of the rolled formed railcar center sill with two end sections that telescope into the interior of spliced center sill sections, wherein the splice casting as a total weight is less than 100 LBS, and ii) a cast transition casting configured for positioning between a cold formed center sill and a draft arm of a railcar wherein the cast transition casting is less than 75 LBS.