A bottom discharge open topped hopper car has a center sill with a bottom flange having laterally protruding edges. A shed plate assembly is provided to discourage accumulation of product on the exposed upwardly facing shelf otherwise presented by the bottom flange protrusions. The shed plate assembly may be mounted to the center sill in a manner that avoids impairment of the stress performance of the flanges of the center sill, whether by mechanical fastenings to other objects, or welding to objects that are not the center sill. The shed plate assembly may have walls having upper margins that are higher than the upper extremity of the hopper discharge opening such that the shelf of the center sill bottom flange is in the lee of, or sheltered by, the shed plate. The lading may thereby move under the influence of gravity past the shed plate to its desired unloading receptacle.

A bottom discharge open topped hopper car has a center sill with a bottom flange having laterally protruding edges. A shed plate assembly is provided to discourage accumulation of product on the exposed upwardly facing shelf otherwise presented by the bottom flange protrusions. The shed plate assembly may be mounted to the center sill in a manner that avoids impairment of the stress performance of the flanges of the center sill, whether by mechanical fastenings to other objects, or welding to objects that are not the center sill. The shed plate assembly may have walls having upper margins that are higher than the upper extremity of the hopper discharge opening such that the shelf of the center sill bottom flange is in the lee of, or sheltered by, the shed plate. The lading may thereby move under the influence of gravity past the shed plate to its desired unloading receptacle.

System and methods for detecting an operational status of a valve or passageway on a railway asset. The methods may comprise: resiliently biasing a magnet in a direction away from a wireless sensor node coupled to the passageway; determining that the passageway is in an open position when the wireless sensor node is neutrally polarized (the data collection device being neutrally polarized when the magnet is distant therefrom); causing the magnet to move in a direction towards the wireless sensor node responsive to a cover of the passageway being closed; and determining that the passageway is in a closed position when the wireless sensor node is magnetically polarized (the wireless sensor node being magnetically polarized when the magnet is proximate thereto).

A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.

A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.

A railcar hatch control system and method for operating railcar hatches of a multi-railcar train is disclosed. A multi-railcar train may have a locomotive and a plurality of railcars having railcar hatches that can be opened and closed. The system and method may include displaying railcar identification information for the railcars on an operator display device, and receiving selections of railcars from an operator that will have a railcar hatch operation performed thereon, such as opening or closing the hatches. The railcar hatch operation is input, and the system and method control the railcar hatch operation being performed only on the selected railcars, and not on the railcars that have not been selected by the operator. The system and method may have operator interfaces devices at an operator station of the train, or at a remote location or on a remote device that communicates wirelessly with the train.

A railcar hatch control system and method for operating railcar hatches of a multi-railcar train is disclosed. A multi-railcar train may have a locomotive and a plurality of railcars having railcar hatches that can be opened and closed. The system and method may include displaying railcar identification information for the railcars on an operator display device, and receiving selections of railcars from an operator that will have a railcar hatch operation performed thereon, such as opening or closing the hatches. The railcar hatch operation is input, and the system and method control the railcar hatch operation being performed only on the selected railcars, and not on the railcars that have not been selected by the operator. The system and method may have operator interfaces devices at an operator station of the train, or at a remote location or on a remote device that communicates wirelessly with the train.

According to some embodiments, a compression strut comprises a first strut body comprising a threaded end and a hollow end, and a second strut body comprising a threaded end and a shaped end. The hollow end of the first strut body is slidably coupled to the shaped end of the second strut body. A spring is disposed between the first strut body and the second strut body configured to resist longitudinal compression of the compression strut. The first strut body is rotationally coupled to the second strut body so that rotation of the first strut body also rotates the second strut body and rotation of the second strut body also rotates the first strut body. A first ball end is threaded to the first strut body and a second ball end is threaded to the second strut body.

According to some embodiments, a compression strut comprises a first strut body comprising a threaded end and a hollow end, and a second strut body comprising a threaded end and a shaped end. The hollow end of the first strut body is slidably coupled to the shaped end of the second strut body. A spring is disposed between the first strut body and the second strut body configured to resist longitudinal compression of the compression strut. The first strut body is rotationally coupled to the second strut body so that rotation of the first strut body also rotates the second strut body and rotation of the second strut body also rotates the first strut body. A first ball end is threaded to the first strut body and a second ball end is threaded to the second strut body.

A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system Further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.