Railcar systems and cargo transportation methods

A top-loading railcar comprising:

• a deck,
• wheels supporting the deck,
• an interior defined by walls comprising:
• a front wall extending vertically from the deck, a back wall extending vertically from the deck, one or more vertical separators extending vertically from the deck, and two sidewalls extending vertically from the deck,
• a first interior segment and a second interior segment within the interior each formed in part by the one or more vertical separators,
• a first top opening at a top of the first interior segment,
• a second top opening at a top of the second interior segment,
• a first removable cargo carrier that comprises vertical frame supports and a removable horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and that is adapted to be placed into and removed from the first interior segment through the first top opening,
• a second removable cargo carrier that comprises vertical frame supports and a removable horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and that is adapted to be placed into and removed from the second interior segment through the second top opening.

A method of placing cargo into a top-loading railcar, the railcar comprising:

• a deck,
• wheels supporting the deck,
• walls extending vertically from the deck to define a railcar interior that comprises a first interior segment and a second interior segment,
• a first top opening at a top of the first interior segment defined by a top of the walls,
• a second top opening at a top of the second interior segment defined by a top of the walls,
• the method comprising:
• placing a first removable cargo carrier through the first top opening and into the first interior segment, the first removable cargo carrier comprising:
• vertical frame supports and a removable horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and
• cargo supported on the removable horizontal support;
• placing a second removable cargo carrier through the second top opening and into the second interior segment, the second removable cargo carrier comprising:
• vertical frame supports and a removable horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and
• cargo supported on the removable horizontal support.

A method of unloading a top-loading railcar and loading the top-loading railcar, the method comprising:

• from a top-loading railcar comprising:
• a deck,
• wheels supporting the deck,
• walls extending vertically from the deck to define a railcar interior that comprises a first interior segment and a second interior segment,
• a first top opening at a top of the first interior segment defined by a top of the walls,
• a second top opening at a top of the second interior segment defined by a top of the walls;
• a first removable cargo carrier in the first interior segment, the first removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports, a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and cargo supported on the horizontal support;
• a second removable cargo carrier in the second interior segment, the second removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports, a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and cargo supported on the horizontal support;
• removing the first removable cargo carrier through the first top opening,
• removing the second removable cargo carrier through the second top opening,
• placing a third removable cargo carrier through the first top opening and into the first interior segment, the third removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports, a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and cargo supported on the horizontal support, and
• placing a fourth removable cargo carrier through the second top opening and into the first interior segment, the fourth removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports, a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and cargo supported on the horizontal support.