A reinforced railcar side stake configured to be mounted to the underframe of a rail car and extend upwardly therefrom, the side stake comprises: a main body which is a U shaped channel that includes a flat back generally parallel to the side wall and a pair of legs extending generally perpendicular to the back and the side wall structures, the legs of the main body having cutouts at a lower portion thereof; a connection plate coupled to the side sill main body within the cutouts wherein the connection plate surface is flush with the upper ends of the legs above the cutouts; and a reinforcing plate within the interior of the main body near the coupling of the side stake to the underframe wherein the reinforcing plate overlaps the area of the connection plate by extending both below and above the cutouts in the legs.

A vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, has cladding modules for cladding a body shell-side vehicle lateral wall and/or vehicle roof. The cladding modules, or at least a majority of the cladding modules of the vehicle, either have a first width or a second width which is smaller than the first width, and the difference between the first and second width corresponds to half of the width of at least one partition module which is mounted in the vehicle and which is mounted between two of the cladding modules or is arranged on an interface between two directly adjacent cladding modules, in particular the partition module is placed in front of the interface when seen in the vehicle transverse direction and covers the interface.

A vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, has cladding modules for cladding a body shell-side vehicle lateral wall and/or vehicle roof. The cladding modules, or at least a majority of the cladding modules of the vehicle, either have a first width or a second width which is smaller than the first width, and the difference between the first and second width corresponds to half of the width of at least one partition module which is mounted in the vehicle and which is mounted between two of the cladding modules or is arranged on an interface between two directly adjacent cladding modules, in particular the partition module is placed in front of the interface when seen in the vehicle transverse direction and covers the interface.

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 gondola railroad car partially formed using members of high strength steel, that is lighter than conventional gondola railroad cars, that can carry more weight than conventional gondola railroad cars, that is less prone to damage than conventional gondola railroad cars, and that has a longer lifespan than convention gondola railroad cars. In various such embodiments, the floor and the side walls of the gondola railroad car are partially formed from ultra-high strength steel members.

A gondola railroad car partially formed using members of high strength steel, that is lighter than conventional gondola railroad cars, that can carry more weight than conventional gondola railroad cars, that is less prone to damage than conventional gondola railroad cars, and that has a longer lifespan than convention gondola railroad cars. In various such embodiments, the floor and the side walls of the gondola railroad car are partially formed from ultra-high strength steel members.

A covered hopper railroad freight car having a car body whose opposite longitudinal sides include substantially flat, parallel, generally vertical upper side wall portions free from outwardly protruding structural strength members.

A covered hopper railroad freight car having a car body whose opposite longitudinal sides include substantially flat, parallel, generally vertical upper side wall portions free from outwardly protruding structural strength members.

A carbody of a railcar includes an underframe, a side bodyshell, and a roof bodyshell. At least one of the underframe, the side bodyshell, and the roof bodyshell includes: an outer plate portion facing a car outside; and a reinforced portion joined to an inside surface of the outer plate portion and forming at least one internal space between the reinforced portion and the outer plate portion. At least one sound absorbing hole communicating with the internal space is formed on the outer plate portion.

A carbody of a railcar includes an underframe, a side bodyshell, and a roof bodyshell. At least one of the underframe, the side bodyshell, and the roof bodyshell includes: an outer plate portion facing a car outside; and a reinforced portion joined to an inside surface of the outer plate portion and forming at least one internal space between the reinforced portion and the outer plate portion. At least one sound absorbing hole communicating with the internal space is formed on the outer plate portion.