Roller pallet system for loading vehicles on a train

A loading system for loading vehicles onto a railroad car, comprising in combination:

• a base mounted on wheels to be supported on rails and having a lower enclosure extending around the perimeter of the base;
• a frame that is vertically movable relative to the base, the frame being carried on the base and having upper and lower compartments for carrying vehicles;
• a upper enclosure that is vertically movable relative to the base, the upper enclosure fitting over the frame and mating with the lower enclosure to fully enclose the frame;
• opening means located below and separate from said railroad car, said opening means extending upwardly for engagement with said upper enclosure for moving the upper enclosure upward relative to the base and lower enclosure to an upper position exposing the sides of the compartments for loading, and to a lower position mating with the lower enclosure;
• lifting means located below and separate from said railroad car, said lifting means extending upwardly for engagement with said frame for raising the frame above the lower enclosure to an upper loading position leveling the lower compartment with a loading dock, to allow vehicles to be loaded into the lower compartments, and to a lower loading position leveling the upper compartments with the loading dock, to allow vehicles to be loaded into the upper compartments, and to a storage position with the frame resting on the base within the lower enclosure;
• and
• means for moving the vehicles laterally from the loading dock into the compartments.

A method of loading automobiles onto a railroad car, comprising the steps of:

• providing a railroad car with a base, a frame that is vertically movable with respect to the base, the frame having upper and lower compartments for receiving vehicles, and an enclosure that encloses the frame and is vertically movable relative to the base;
• positioning the railroad car beside a loading dock;
• raising the enclosure to an upper position relative to the base and raising the frame relative to the base to an upper loading position to expose a side of the lower compartment and to position the lower compartment adjacent the loading dock, then moving a vehicle from the loading dock into the lower compartment;
• moving the frame relative to the base to a lower loading position to position the upper compartment adjacent the loading dock while the enclosure is in the upper position so as to expose a side of the upper compartment, then moving a vehicle from the loading dock into the upper compartment;
• and
• lowering the frame to a storage position onto the base, and lowering the enclosure to a storage position over the frame.