Railway container and car

A cargo container for use with a railway car of the type having a longitudinally extending central spine supported at each end by a respective truck, each truck having a plurality of wheels, each having an upper edge, said container comprising:

• a bottom having a raised, longitudinally extending central portion shaped to overlie the spine and two lowered, longitudinally extended side portions, each shaped to extend alongside the spine between the trucks;
• first and second side walls, each mounted to a respective side portion of the bottom to extend parallel to the spine, each side wall including a lower portion which extends below the upper edges of the wheels;
• first and second end walls, each mounted to extend between the side walls at a respective end and secured to the bottom;
• a top having a raised, longitudinally extending ridge having a shape corresponding to that of the bottom, said top mounted to the side walls and the end walls to enclose the container;
• and
• means for releasably anchoring the container to the car to position the container with respect to the car;
• said bottom, side walls, end walls, and top cooperating to define a bulk cargo container having storage capacity of bulk cargo below the upper edges of the spine;
• said bottom shaped to clear the spine such that the container can be lowered onto and lifted off of the railway car.

A container assembly adapted to be transported on a railway car of the type having a central spine supported at each end by a respective truck, said assembly comprising:

• a first container comprising a first peripheral wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, a first bottom section secured to the lower edge of the wall, a first top section secured to the upper edge of the wall, and means for releasably anchoring the first container to the railway car to position the first container with respect to the car;
• said first bottom section defining a raised, longitudinally extending central section shaped to overlie the spine and a pair of downwardly extending, cargo carrying skirts, each positioned on a respective side of the central section to extend alongside the spine;
• said first top section defining a raised central ridge having a contour substantially corresponding to that of the first bottom section, said first bottom section shaped to clear the spine such that the first container can be lowered onto and lifted off of the railway car;
• a second container comprising a second peripheral wall, a second bottom section, and a second top section, said second bottom section having a contour corresponding to that of the first top section, including a longitudinally extending central recess shaped to receive the central ridge of the first container;
• said second container positioned over the first container with the central ridge of the first container positioned within the central recess of the second container and the first and second peripheral walls in alignment;
• and
• means for fastening the first container to the second container such that the first and second containers can be stored and transported as a unit.

A car for carrying a container having a bottom section defining a raised, elongated central section and a pair of longitudinally extending skirts, each positioned to extend alongside and below a respective side of the central section, said container having at least two anchor members, each positioned at a respective lower portion of a respective one of the skirts, said car comprising:

• a central spine shaped to fit between the skirts adjacent the spine such that the skirts extend below at least a portion of the spine;
• a pair of trucks, each mounted to a respective end of the spine to support the spine, each of said truck including a plurality of wheels, each rotatable about a respective axis;
• at least two container attachment structures for positioning the container with respect to the car;
• and
• means for mounting the at least two container attachment structures to the spine, said mounting means shaped to clear the bottom section of the container such that each of the attachment structures contacts the container at a point lower than the upper surface of the spine adjacent a respective anchor member in order to provide a secure and stable mounting of the container to the car.

The combination of a railway car and container comprising:

• a railway car comprising:
• a central spine extending in a longitudinal direction;
• a pair of trucks, each mounted to support a respective end of the spine, each truck comprising at least two wheels mounted on an axle;
• said axles being substantially coplanar;
• and
• a pair of bolsters, each secured to the spine near a respective truck, each bolster including two spaced pedestals, each positioned on a respective side of the spine at a point lower than an upper surface of the spine;
• a cargo container comprising:
• a peripheral wall having a lower edge and an upper edge;
• a bottom section secured to the lower edge of the peripheral wall, said bottom section defining a longitudinally extending central section above and adjacent the spine and a pair of downwardly extending, cargo carrying skirts, each skirt positioned adjacent a respective side of the spine between the trucks;
• a top section secured to the upper edge of the peripheral wall, said top section defining a raised central ridge having a contour corresponding to that of the bottom section;
• and
• four anchor members, each mounted at a respective lower end portion of a respective one of the skirts adjacent a respective one of the pedestals;
• and
• means for releasably fastening each of the anchor members to the respective pedestal to secure the container to the car;
• said bottom section shaped to clear the spine such that the container can be lowered onto and lifted off of the railway car.