A system for immobilizing a semi-trailer kingpin on a transport vehicle includes a balance arm and a substantially horizontal rigid linking structure designed to guide the vertical movement of the receiving nacelle, hold it in position above the lifting system in a horizontal plane and take up the forces exerted thereon. The longitudinal rigid linking structure is hingedly linked to the receiving nacelle and to the transport vehicle in order to take up the longitudinal forces from same, and the balance arm includes preloaded springs that take up the forces exerted on the balance arm when the receiving nacelle is temporarily inclined relative to the horizontal plane. The lifting system for lifting the receiving nacelle is mounted pivoting on the railway unit at a pivot pin transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transport vehicle.

A funicular intended particularly for transporting heavy loads between an upstream station (10) and a downstream station (12), comprises a railway track (14) connecting the upstream station (10) to the downstream station (12) and a vehicle (16) running on the track (14) and drawn by at least one towing cable (30). The vehicle comprises a chassis (50) defining a median longitudinal vertical plane that rests on at least one pendulum running gear, comprising two independent lateral pendulum devices (60) each comprising a secondary pendulum (62) articulated in relation to the chassis (50) and two primary pendulums, each articulated in relation to the secondary pendulum (62). Each lateral pendulum device (60) comprises a plate (64) connected to the chassis (50) via one or several jacks (66) to which the secondary pendulum device (62) is articulated.

A funicular intended particularly for transporting heavy loads between an upstream station (10) and a downstream station (12), comprises a railway track (14) connecting the upstream station (10) to the downstream station (12) and a vehicle (16) running on the track (14) and drawn by at least one towing cable (30). The vehicle comprises a chassis (50) defining a median longitudinal vertical plane that rests on at least one pendulum running gear, comprising two independent lateral pendulum devices (60) situated on either side of the median longitudinal vertical plane, wherein each lateral pendulum device (60) comprises a secondary pendulum (62) articulated in relation to the chassis (50) around a horizontal secondary pivot axis and two primary pendulums, each articulated in relation to the secondary pendulum (62) around a horizontal primary pivot axis, wherein the primary pivot axes of the two primary pendulums are spaced apart from one another longitudinally on either side of the secondary pivot axis, wherein each primary pendulum is associated with at least two support rollers designed to run on the railway track (14), each rotating around a rotation axis parallel to the primary pivot axis of the associated primary pendulum and situated longitudinally on either side of the primary pivot axis of the associated primary pendulum.

A funicular intended particularly for transporting heavy loads between an upstream station (10) and a downstream station (12), comprises a track (14), preferably a railway, connecting the upstream station (10) to the downstream station (12), a vehicle (16) running on the track (14) and at least one towing cable (30) in closed loop having a first towing section (32.1) passing over a first pulley (20.1) of the upstream station and over a first return pulley (26) fixed to the vehicle (16) and a second towing section (32.2), in all ways separate from the first towing section and passing over the return pulley (26) and over a second pulley (20.2) of the upstream station (10).

A self-driving steel coil transport vehicle capable of active steering includes a load-bearing device, bogies mounted below the load-bearing device, and wheels mounted under the bogies. Two bogies are provided and arranged in a front-rear manner along the running direction of the transport vehicle. Four wheels are mounted under each bogie, and the load-bearing device is articulated with the two bogies, respectively. The transport vehicle is drivable in both a straight line and curves.

A saddle and foot stop mounting system for large tower sections transported by rail. A locating assembly, including a key rail assembly and a foot stop assembly are used in conjunction with movable saddles. The foot stop assembly includes a locating key for engaging one of plural key fixtures along the key rail, which defines plural mounting locations for the foot stop. Used in conjunction with the movable saddles, this system accommodates a wide range of tower section sizes and weights.

Methods and means for reconfiguring an aircraft assembly plant that receives fuselages or fuselage sections via a public railroad system. In cases where the aircraft assembly plant comprises a first assembly line for installing (i.e., stuffing) equipment inside fuselages or fuselage sections and a second assembly line for installing equipment on exteriors of internally equipped fuselages or fuselage sections, both assembly lines being housed in the same building, the facility can be reconfigured by moving at least one fuselage stuffing operation of the first assembly line to an auxiliary building which overlies a railroad track connected to the public railroad system. The moved fuselage stuffing operations will be performed inside the auxiliary building while each fuselage or fuselage section is supported in an upright position on a respective railroad flat car.

Disclosed is a railway wagon for transporting trucks, including a middle running board device, end running board devices respectively arranged at two ends of the middle running board device, and a bridge board device arranged at the outer end of each end running board device. The middle running board device includes of multiple middle running board assemblies. Each middle running board assembly includes a running board connected to a side wall. At least one support plate connected to the side wall is arranged below the running board. Each end funning board device includes multiple end running board assemblies. Each end running board assembly includes a running board connected to the side wall. At least one support plate connected to the side wall is arranged below the running board.

A system for immobilizing a semi-trailer kingpin on a transport vehicle includes a balance arm and a substantially horizontal rigid linking structure designed to guide the vertical movement of the receiving nacelle, hold it in position above the lifting system in a horizontal plane and take up the forces exerted thereon. The longitudinal rigid linking structure is hingedly linked to the receiving nacelle and to the transport vehicle in order to take up the longitudinal forces from same, and the balance arm includes preloaded springs that take up the forces exerted on the balance arm when the receiving nacelle is temporarily inclined relative to the horizontal plane. The lifting system for lifting the receiving nacelle is mounted pivoting on the railway unit at a pivot pin transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transport vehicle.

A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. Rail cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, and a bogie having at least four flanged rail wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame of the rail car. A method for unloading the rail cars includes lifting the front of the frame of the rail cars and pivoting the rail cars by an angle alpha from the track direction at an unloading area, and lowering the front end of the frame to the ground to allow truck access to trailers on the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.