Multi-unit intermodal railroad well car with safety platform and handbrake

Abstract

A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures. The rail car includes safety platform and handbrake wherein operator walkway platforms are included with co-planer end walkways and running boards, wherein the running boards are above the top chords of the sidewalls of the well car; and a handbrake operated with a hand wheel is mounted on one side of the railroad well car, which hand wheel extends below the top chords of the side walls of the well car whereby the hand wheel is accessible from the side of the railcar via an operator on the ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railroad well car comprising:
 A pair of spaced trucks;   A railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures, wherein the well structure including (i) a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures, (ii) a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; and (iii) a floor of the well structure extending generally between the side sills; and   operator walkway platforms with co-planer end walkways and running boards, wherein the running boards are above the top chords of the sidewalls of the well car.   
     
     
         2 . A railroad well car comprising:
 A plurality of spaced trucks grouped in pairs;   At least three railcar bodies supported on the trucks, each body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures, wherein the well structure include (i) a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; (ii) a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; (iii) a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and   A handbrake operated with a hand wheel mounted on one side of the railroad well car, which hand wheel extends below the top chords of the side walls of the well car whereby the hand wheel is accessible from the side of the railcar via an operator on the ground.   
     
     
         3 . A railroad double stack container well car comprising:
 A plurality of spaced trucks;   At least one railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, each body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures, wherein the well structure includes (i) A pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; and (ii) a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; and (iii) a pair of end chords extending between the side sills, one at each end of the well structure;   Operator walkway platforms with co-planer end walkways and running boards, wherein the running boards are above the top chords of the sidewalls of the well car; and   A handbrake operated with a hand wheel mounted on one side of the railroad well car, which hand wheel extends below the top chords of the side walls of the well car whereby the hand wheel is accessible from the side of the railcar via an operator on the ground.