Automated railroad tie unloading

An automated railroad tie unloading system, comprising:

• a plurality of railroad cars, wherein each railroad car of the plurality of railroad cars includes
• a support platform coupled to the railroad car, the support platform including a support surface configured to receive at least one railroad tie;
• a support structure positioned about the support platform defining a railroad tie magazine to hold the at least one railroad tie in a vertical stack configuration, the support structure defining a gap having a width that is greater than a width of the at least one railroad tie through which the at least one railroad tie is able to pass to offload the at least one railroad tie from the railroad car;
• a gate coupled to at least one side of the support structure, the gate transitionable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the closed configuration blocks at least a portion of the gap of the support structure to prevent passage of the at least one railroad tie through the gap, and wherein the open configuration permits passage of the at least one railroad tie through the gap of the support structure;
• and
• a lift structure coupled to the support platform, the lift structure including at least one member transitionable between a lowered configuration and a raised configuration, wherein the lowered configuration positions the member at or beneath the support surface, and wherein the raised configuration positions the member above the support surface to raise an end of the at least one railroad tie and shift a center of gravity of the at least one railroad tie beyond a midpoint of the support platform to offload the at least one railroad tie from the railroad car in the vertical stack configuration.