Systems and methods for loading and transporting freight and dunnage on railcars

Abstract

Systems and methods for loading and transporting freight and dunnage on railcars are disclosed. An illustrative method of loading freight onto a railcar for transport can include the steps of attaching a number of lower support members to a floor or deck of the railcar, loading a lower tier of freight components onto the lower support members, loading a number of upper support members onto the lower tier of freight components, loading an upper tier of freight components onto the upper support members and releasably fastening the lower and upper support members to the lower and upper tiers of freight components. Each of the support members can be releasably fastened to the freight components via a number of coupling members, allowing the freight components to be easily loaded onto and unloaded from the railcar.

1 . A method of loading freight onto a railcar for transport, the railcar having a floor or deck, a number of ends defining a length, and a number of sides defining a width, the method comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a number of lower support members to the floor or deck of the railcar;    loading a lower tier of freight components onto the lower support members;    releasably fastening the lower tier the freight components to the lower support members;    loading a number of upper support members onto the lower tier of freight components;    loading an upper tier of freight components onto the upper support members; and    releasably fastening the upper support members to the lower and upper tiers of freight components.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said lower support members are permanently attached to the floor or deck of the railcar.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of permanently attaching the lower support members to the floor or deck of the railcar is accomplished by welding.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said floor or deck comprises a steel deck.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said railcar is a flatcar.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lower and upper tiers of freight components include a number of frame weldments.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the frame weldments are laterally nested in pairs above the floor or deck of the railcar.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lower and upper support members includes a support beam extending lengthwise across the width of the railcar.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each freight component is releasably secured to at least one vertically adjacent support member.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each freight component is releasably secured to a plurality of support members.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said steps of releasably fastening the lower and upper tiers of freight components to the lower and upper support members is accomplished using coupling members.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each coupling member includes a pin or bolt.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said steps of releasably fastening the lower and upper tiers of freight components to the lower and upper support members includes the steps of: 
 forming at least one hole or opening through a portion of each freight component;    forming at least one hole or opening within each support member vertically adjacent each freight component; and    inserting coupling members through the holes or openings formed on the freight components and vertically adjacent support members, thereby coupling each freight component to at least one support member.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each tier of freight components includes a laterally nested array of freight components disposed across the width of the railcar.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each tier of freight components includes a number of horizontal groupings of freight components disposed along the length of the railcar.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each horizontal grouping of freight components is laterally nested relative to an adjacent horizontal grouping of freight components.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each tier of freight components is vertically nested relative to an adjacent tier of freight components.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 loading and fastening an additional number of upper support members onto said upper tier of freight components; and    loading and fastening at least one additional upper tier of freight components onto said additional upper support members.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one additional tier of freight components comprises a single additional tier.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one additional tier of freight components comprises at least two additional tiers.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a number of vertical tie-downs or straps; and    strapping the lower and upper tiers of freight components to the railcar.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said steps of releasably fastening the lower and upper tiers of freight components to the lower and upper support members is accomplished as a single step after said loading steps.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of transporting the railcar and freight to a destination location.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detaching the lower and upper support members from the freight components and unloading the freight components;    releasably securing the upper support members to a number of vertical members; and    transporting the railcar to another destination location.    
   
   
       25 . A method of loading freight onto a railcar for transport, the railcar having a floor or deck, a number of ends defining a length, and a number of sides defining a width, the method comprising the steps of: 
 permanently attaching a number of lower support beams to the floor or deck of the railcar;    loading a lower tier of freight components onto the lower support beams;    loading a number of upper support beams onto the lower tier of freight components;    loading an upper tier of freight components onto the upper support beams;    releasably fastening the lower and upper support beams to the lower and upper tiers of freight components, said releasably fastening step including the steps of: 
 forming at least one hole or opening through a portion of each freight component;  
 forming at least one hole or opening within each support member vertically adjacent each freight component; and  
 inserting coupling members through the holes or openings on the freight components and vertically adjacent support members, thereby coupling each freight component to at least one support member.  
   
   
   
       26 . A method of loading freight onto a railcar for transport, the railcar having a floor or deck, a number of ends defining a length, and a number of sides defining a width, the method comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a first number of support members to the floor or deck of the railcar;    loading a first tier of freight components onto the first support members;    releasably fastening the first tier of freight components to the first support members;    loading a second number of support members onto the first tier of freight components;    loading a second tier of freight components onto the second number of support members;    releasably fastening the second number of support members to the first and second tiers of freight components;    loading a third number of support members onto the second tier of freight components;    loading a third tier of freight components onto the third number of support members; and    releasably fastening the third number of upper support members to the second and third tiers of freight components.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of: 
 loading a fourth number of support members onto the third tier of freight components;    loading a fourth tier of freight components onto the fourth number of support members; and    releasably fastening the fourth number of upper support members to the third and fourth tiers of freight components.    
   
   
       28 . A method of loading freight onto a railcar for transport, the railcar having a floor or deck, a number of ends defining a length, and a number of sides defining a width, the method comprising the steps of: 
 loading a lower tier of freight components above the floor or deck of the railcar;    loading at least one upper tier of freight components above the lower tier of freight components;    forming a number of holes or openings through a portion of each freight component; and    inserting coupling members through the holes or openings and releasably securing the lower and upper tiers of freight components to each other.    
   
   
       29 . A system for loading freight components onto a railcar, the railcar having a floor or deck, a number of ends defining a length, and a number of sides defining a width, the system comprising: 
 a number of lower support members attached to the floor or deck of the railcar;    a number of upper support members disposed above the lower support members; and    at least one tier of freight components interposed between said lower and upper number of support members, each freight component being releasably secured to at least one vertically adjacent support member.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each of said lower support members are permanently attached to the floor or deck of the railcar.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein each of said lower support members are welded to the floor or deck of the railcar.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said floor or deck comprises a steel deck.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said railcar is a flatcar.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one tier of frame components includes a number of frame weldments.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the frame weldments are laterally nested in pairs above the floor or deck of the railcar.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each of the lower and upper support members includes a support beam extending lengthwise across the width of the railcar.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each freight component is releasably secured to at least one vertically adjacent support member.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each freight component is releasably secured to a plurality of support members.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising coupling means for releasably securing each freight component to at least one vertically adjacent support member.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said coupling means includes a pin or bolt.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein said pin or bolt extends through a hole or opening formed through a portion of the freight component.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each tier of freight components includes a laterally nested array of freight components disposed across the width of the railcar.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each tier of freight components includes a laterally nested array of freight components disposed along the length of the railcar.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one tier of freight components includes a plurality of tiers, and wherein each tier of freight components is vertically nested relative to an adjacent tier of freight components.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each tier of freight components includes a number of horizontal groupings of freight components disposed along the length of the railcar.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a number of vertical tie-downs or straps for securing the at least one tier of freight components to the railcar.  
   
   
       47 . A system for transporting dunnage on a railcar, the railcar having a floor or deck, a number of ends defining a length, and a number of sides defining a width, the system comprising: 
 at least one vertical tier of support beams disposed above the floor or deck of the railcar, each support beam having a number of through-holes or openings therein; and    at least one vertical member extending through the holes or openings of the support beams.    
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein each support member comprises an I-shaped beam, and wherein said holes or openings extend through a lower and/or upper flange of said beam.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein a lower end of said vertical member is secured to the floor or deck of the railcar.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein a lower end of said vertical member is secured to a support member attached to the floor or deck of the railcar.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein said vertical member is a threaded rod.