A system for connecting a center sill to a draft sill in a railcar includes a center sill portion that includes a center sill portion top plate, a draft sill portion that includes a draft sill top plate, the draft sill portion having a draft sill cross-section larger than a center sill cross-section of the center sill portion. The system further includes a transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion, the transition portion includes a transition portion top plate, wherein the transition portion top plate is the same plate as at least one of the center sill portion top plate and the draft sill portion top plate. A method for connecting the center sill to the draft sill in a railcar includes forming the transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion.

A system for connecting a center sill to a draft sill in a railcar includes a center sill portion that includes a center sill portion top plate, a draft sill portion that includes a draft sill top plate, the draft sill portion having a draft sill cross-section larger than a center sill cross-section of the center sill portion. The system further includes a transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion, the transition portion includes a transition portion top plate, wherein the transition portion top plate is the same plate as at least one of the center sill portion top plate and the draft sill portion top plate. A method for connecting the center sill to the draft sill in a railcar includes forming the transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion.

A method for manufacturing a railcar body includes assembling an underframe assembly, side walls, a roof and end walls made from laser cut sheet and plate components where the assemblies made from sheet components are robotically laser welded by solely using melt-through welds and where the assemblies made from plate components are robotically laser welded using solely butt welds.

A method for manufacturing a railcar body includes assembling an underframe assembly, side walls, a roof and end walls made from laser cut sheet and plate components where the assemblies made from sheet components are robotically laser welded by solely using melt-through welds and where the assemblies made from plate components are robotically laser welded using solely butt welds.

A rail car includes an elongated floor supporting a rail car body, a draft sill depending from the floor, and a crash energy management (CEM) system. The CEM system includes a coupler plate coupled to the draft sill and depending from the floor between the draft sill and a first end of the floor, a coupler support depending from the floor between the coupler plate and the first end of the floor, an elongated coupler assembly extending from the coupler plate in a direction of the first end of the floor via an opening defined by the coupler support, and at least one cable connected in tension between the coupler support and the coupler plate.

A rail car includes an elongated floor supporting a rail car body, a draft sill depending from the floor, and a crash energy management (CEM) system. The CEM system includes a coupler plate coupled to the draft sill and depending from the floor between the draft sill and a first end of the floor, a coupler support depending from the floor between the coupler plate and the first end of the floor, an elongated coupler assembly extending from the coupler plate in a direction of the first end of the floor via an opening defined by the coupler support, and at least one cable connected in tension between the coupler support and the coupler plate.

A system for connecting a center sill to a draft sill in a railcar includes a center sill portion that includes a center sill portion top plate, a draft sill portion that includes a draft sill top plate, the draft sill portion having a draft sill cross-section larger than a center sill cross-section of the center sill portion. The system further includes a transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion, the transition portion includes a transition portion top plate, wherein the transition portion top plate is the same plate as at least one of the center sill portion top plate and the draft sill portion top plate. A method for connecting the center sill to the draft sill in a railcar includes forming the transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion.

A system for connecting a center sill to a draft sill in a railcar includes a center sill portion that includes a center sill portion top plate, a draft sill portion that includes a draft sill top plate, the draft sill portion having a draft sill cross-section larger than a center sill cross-section of the center sill portion. The system further includes a transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion, the transition portion includes a transition portion top plate, wherein the transition portion top plate is the same plate as at least one of the center sill portion top plate and the draft sill portion top plate. A method for connecting the center sill to the draft sill in a railcar includes forming the transition portion between the center sill portion and the draft sill portion.

A carbody of a railcar includes: an underframe; a first member provided at one of vertical sides of a vertical center of the underframe, supported by the underframe, and absorbing collision energy; a second member provided at the other vertical side of the vertical center of the underframe, supported by the underframe, and contacting an obstacle when the first member is compressed by collision with the obstacle. In a case where the second member receives a reaction force from the obstacle when the first member is compressed by the collision with the obstacle, the second member transfers to the underframe a moment load that is opposite in a rotational direction to a moment load transferred to the underframe by the first member.

A carbody of a railcar includes: an underframe; a first member provided at one of vertical sides of a vertical center of the underframe, supported by the underframe, and absorbing collision energy; a second member provided at the other vertical side of the vertical center of the underframe, supported by the underframe, and contacting an obstacle when the first member is compressed by collision with the obstacle. In a case where the second member receives a reaction force from the obstacle when the first member is compressed by the collision with the obstacle, the second member transfers to the underframe a moment load that is opposite in a rotational direction to a moment load transferred to the underframe by the first member.