Convertible railway hopper car

Abstract

A convertible open top hopper car (10) is assembled by longitudinally aligning a pair of railway car stub sills (12) in an assembly position. Transversely extending shear plates (16) are attached to each stub sill. A transversely extending inclined locating plate (18) is integrally connected to the inner end portion of each stub sill. The locating plate preferably includes a flange portion (22) adapted to receive a desired hopper car bottom (24). The bottom may be a conventional gondola bottom having pivoting doors, a light weight gondola bottom for use in cars which are rotated 180.degree. to unload the lading, or a gondola bottom having rapid discharge doors. The bottom selected for application is preferably first attached at each of its ends to the longitudinally spaced locating plates (18). Then hopper car sides (40) including side sills (42) and side sheets (46) are lowered onto the respective shear plates (16) and are welded to the shear plates. Then hopper car ends (60) including end slope sheets (62, 74) and vertical beams ( 110) to react the impact turning moment are connected to the shear plates and stub sills. A vertical bolster web (34) extending between the shear plate and the end slope sheet may be sub-assembled with the stub sill or with the end slope sheets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.