Double-stacked freight car

In a freight car for transporting double-stacked freight containers, each container having a rectangular base with corner portions:

• a main load bearing frame extending longitudinally with respect to the freight car;
• a floor structure supported by the main load bearing frame for receiving and supporting a lower freight container of a first standard length;
• end frame assemblies at opposite ends of the floor structure, each end frame assembly including an upright frame structure connected to the main load bearing frame and extending therefrom to a level above the height of the lower container;
• each end frame assembly providing first and second pairs of corner supports at said level, each corner support providing a load bearing surface to support the weight of a freight container, the corner supports of each pair being longitudinally aligned with the corresponding corner supports of the other end frame assembly and being adapted to cooperate therewith for receiving and supporting an upper container above and independently of the lower container;
• said first pairs of corner supports being positioned to receive and support an upper container of at least said first standard length, and said second pairs of corner supports being positioned to receive and support an upper container of an alternative second standard length greater than the first;
• and
• means for selectively moving said first pairs of corner supports from a normal load supporting position to a retracted position at which they do not obstruct loading of an upper container of said second standard length.