Railcar safety appliances

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar. A well component supported by the pair of trucks is disposed between the pair of trucks. A pair of end sections are disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section of the pair of end sections comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well. A step is coupled to the well platform and extends into the well component to facilitate operator egress from the well component to the well platform. A handrail is proximate the step, the handrail is sized to accommodate a hand of the operator. The handrail may be positioned above the step and below the well platform.

1 . A railcar comprising:
 a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar;   a well component supported by the pair of trucks and disposed between the pair of trucks;   a pair of end sections supported by the pair of trucks and disposed at each end of the railcar;   at least one end section of the pair of end sections comprises:
 a well platform disposed near an end of the well; 
 a step coupled to the end of the well; and 
 a first handrail proximate the step, the first handrail coupled to the at least one end section and extending into the well component to facilitate operator egress from the well component to the well platform. 
   
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the step comprises a recessed portion of the end of the well and the first handrail comprises a horizontal ladder rung positioned above the step. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the step comprises a first horizontal ladder rung and the first handrail comprises a second horizontal ladder rung positioned above the first horizontal ladder rung. 
     
     
         4 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the first handrail comprises a first vertical ladder rail, and a second handrail comprises a second vertical ladder rail. 
     
     
         5 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the first handrail is positioned above the step and positioned below the well platform. 
     
     
         6 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the handrail comprises a substantially rounded surface. 
     
     
         7 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step comprises angled bar;   the step is coupled to the well platform via a pair of ladder rails, the ladder rails comprising angled bar; and   the handrail comprises round bar coupled between the pair of ladder rails.   
     
     
         8 . A ladder system for facilitating operator egress from a well component of a railcar, the ladder system comprising:
 a handrail, wherein:
 the railcar comprises a pair of end sections disposed at each end of the railcar; 
 the well component is disposed between the pair of end sections; 
 at least one end section of the pair of end sections comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well; and 
 when the ladder system is coupled to the at least one end section, the handrail is disposed within the well component to facilitate operator egress from the well component to the well platform. 
   
     
     
         9 . The ladder system of  claim 8 , further comprising a step, the step comprising a recessed portion of the end of the well and the first handrail comprises a horizontal ladder rung positioned above the step. 
     
     
         10 . The ladder system of  claim 8 , wherein the step comprises a first horizontal ladder rung and the handrail comprises a second horizontal ladder rung positioned above the first horizontal ladder rung. 
     
     
         11 . The ladder system of  claim 8 , wherein the handrail comprises a pair of vertical ladder rails. 
     
     
         12 . The ladder system of  claim 8 , wherein the first handrail is positioned above the step and positioned below the well platform when the ladder system is coupled to the at least one end section. 
     
     
         13 . The ladder system of  claim 8 , wherein the handrail comprises a substantially rounded surface. 
     
     
         14 . The ladder system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the step comprises angled bar coupled between a pair of ladder rails, the ladder rails comprising angled bar; and   the handrail comprises round bar coupled between the pair of ladder rails.   
     
     
         15 . A handrail system for facilitating operator egress from a well component of a railcar, the handrail system comprising:
 a handrail, wherein:
 the railcar comprises a pair of end sections disposed at each end of the railcar; 
 the well component is disposed between the pair of end sections; 
 at least one end section of the pair of end sections comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well; 
 a step extends into the well component to facilitate operator egress from the well component to the well platform; and 
   the handrail is positioned above the step and below the well platform.   
     
     
         16 . The handrail system of  claim 15 , wherein the step comprises a recessed portion of the end of the well and the first handrail comprises a horizontal ladder rung positioned above the step. 
     
     
         17 . The handrail system of  claim 15 , wherein the step comprises a first horizontal ladder rung and the handrail comprises a second horizontal ladder rung positioned above the first horizontal ladder rung. 
     
     
         18 . The handrail system of  claim 15 , wherein the handrail comprises a pair of vertical ladder rails. 
     
     
         19 . The handrail system of  claim 15 , wherein the handrail comprises a substantially rounded surface. 
     
     
         20 . The handrail system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the step comprises angled bar coupled between a pair of ladder rails, the ladder rails comprising angled bar; and   the handrail comprises round bar coupled between the pair of ladder rails.