Depressed center car

Abstract

An open top gondola railway car of depressed center design having stub sills and an end panel at each end of the car body which slopes outwardly and upwardly from an intersection with a generally permanently closed bottom having horizontal plate portions and at least one centrally located depressed curved portion in cross-section. Wheeled multi-axle trucks adjacent each end are provided with the horizontal plate portions extending over them. An upwardly directed step portion located intermediate the ends of the curved portion and reinforced openings having a smoothly curved perimeter in the horizontal plate portions located over the wheels, provide an increase in the clearance distance between the bottom and any concave or convex contoured portion of track upon which the car is located. The openings may be circular with rings or flanged conical members bolted to them to provide the reinforcing. The sloped ends have support sheets directing lading forces exerted on the ends to the stub sills.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.