Container support pedestal

A container support in combination with an intermodal flat rail car having a load bearing platform, the container support comprising:

• (a) a pedestal for supporting containers, the pedestal having a surface which slopes downwardly at an angle of about 45.degree. when the pedestal is in an operative position;
• (b) means for supporting the pedestal defining a housing into which a substantial portion of the pedestal may be inserted, the housing defined in part by a slot in the rail car platform and in part by a slot in the pedestal supporting means, wherein the configuration of the pedestal and the configuration of the housing are such that, when the pedestal is in the operative position and when the pedestal is in a stored position, the pedestal substantially covers the slot in the platform of the rail car, and when the pedestal is in its stored position it forms part of the load bearing platform of the rail car, the housing having a surface which slopes downwardly at an angle of about 30.degree.;
• (c) an axle supported by opposite sides of the housing and inserted through an aperture in the pedestal for pivoting of the pedestal outwardly about a longitudinal axis of the rail car from the operative position of the pedestal to its stored position approximately 45.degree. from the vertical;
• (d) first bearing means in the housing and adjustable first bearing means on the pedestal located in relationship to each other so that, when the pedestal is in the stored position, these bearing means bear against each other to prevent outward rotation of the pedestal, said first bearing means in the housing including said downwardly sloping housing surface;
• (e) second bearing means in the housing and adjustable second bearing means on the pedestal located in relationship to each other so that, when the pedestal is in the operative position, these second bearing means bear against each other to prevent substantial inward rotation of the pedestal;
• and
• (f) a locking bar which engages the downwardly sloping surface of the pedestal and the downwardly sloping surface of the housing to lock the pedestal in its operative position to prevent outward rotation of the pedestal during use.

A rail car having a load bearing platform and a container support which comprises:

• (a) a housing disposed below the the load bearing platform, the load bearing platform having a slot therein for access to the interior of the housing;
• and
• (b) a pedestal pivotally mounted in the housing, the pedestal having a leg which extends through the slot, the leg having a container bearing surface, the pedestal also having a freight bearing surface, oriented generally transverse of the leg;
• wherein the pedestal is pivotable between an operative position and a stored position such that, in the operative position, the container bearing surface of the leg is oriented substantially horizontally and, in the stored position the freight bearing surface is substantially level with the load bearing platform and the legs forms a side curb thereby enabling the pedestal to support a load.