Long Rail Transport Train

Abstract

A railcar consist of flatcars for transporting continuous rail sections configured for top loading and end unloading of the rail sections. The consist includes a tie-down flatcar and plural support flatcars. The tie-down flatcar includes a rail securement rack with plural removable rail clamping shelves that facilitate top loading and clamping of the rail sections in place. Each of the plural support flatcars have a roller rack fixed to it. The roller racks include plural roller shelves with rollers to support the rail sections. The roller shelves are pivotally mounted to the roller racks between a loading position that provides clearance for placement of the rail sections from above the consist, and a transport position that supports the rail sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rail securement rack assembly for a tie-down flatcar in a consist of flatcars for transporting continuous rail sections greater in length than a single flatcar, and adapted for top loading and end unloading of the rail sections, the rail securement rack comprising:
 a support frame, vertically oriented, and adapted for fixed connection to the tie-down flatcar;   plural rail clamping shelves configured to selectively engage said support frame in a stacked manner, and wherein   each of said plural rail clamping shelves includes an upper surface for supporting a portion of the continuous rail sections thereupon, and a rail clamp assembly for retainably engaging said portion of the continuous rail sections, and wherein   at least a portion of said plural rail clamping shelves are selectively positionable between a first position, generally orthogonal to said portion of the continuous rail sections, to facilitate support thereof, and a second position enabling placement of said portion of the continuous rail sections into said rail securement rack from above.   
     
     
         2 . {rotatable shelves} The rail securement rack of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said plural rail clamping shelves are rotatably coupled to said support frame along a vertical axis, and rotatable between said first position and said second position, and wherein   said second position aligns said plural rail clamping shelves in generally parallel alignment with said portion of the continuous rail sections, thereby facilitating the top loading.   
     
     
         3 . The rail securement rack of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said plural rail clamping shelves are replaceably coupled to said support frame between said first position and said second position to facilitate removal thereof for top loading, and replacement thereof for stacked support of the continuous rail sections.   
     
     
         4 . The rail securement rack of  claim 1 , and wherein a portion of said rail clamp assemblies further comprise:
 plural hydraulic clamps arranged to apply clamp force against a corresponding portion of the continuous rail sections, to thereby retainable engage them against longitudinal movement with respect to said support frame.   
     
     
         5 . The rail securement rack of  claim 4 , and further comprising:
 a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to said plural hydraulic clamps to provide said clamp force.   
     
     
         6 . The rail securement rack of  claim 1 , and wherein said rail clamp assembly further comprises:
 plural clamp plates and fasteners for connection to said plural rail clamping shelves to apply clamp force against the base flanges of said portion of the continuous rail sections to thereby retainable engage them to said plural rail clamping shelves.   
     
     
         7 . The rail securement rack of  claim 1 , and wherein said rail clamp assembly further comprises:
 plural conformal clamps and fasteners for connection to said plural rail clamping shelves to apply conformal clamp force against said portion of the continuous rail sections to thereby retainable engage them to said plural rail clamping shelves.   
     
     
         8 . A consist of flatcars for transporting continuous rail sections greater in length than a single flatcar, and adapted for top loading and end unloading of the rail sections, the consist comprising:
 a tie-down flatcar having a rail securement rack fixed thereto, said rail securement rack having a support frame, vertically oriented, plural rail clamping shelves configured to selectively engage said support frame in a stacked manner, and wherein each of said plural rail clamping shelves includes an upper surface for supporting a portion of the continuous rail sections thereupon, and a rail clamp assembly for retainably engaging said portion of the continuous rail sections, and wherein at least a portion of said plural rail clamping shelves are selectively positionable between a first position, generally orthogonal to said portion of the continuous rail sections, to facilitate support thereof, and a second position enabling placement of said portion of the continuous rail sections into said rail securement rack from above;   plural support flatcars engaged in the consist with said tie-down flatcar, wherein each of said plural support flatcars has a roller rack fixed thereto that includes plural roller shelves that each comprise plural rollers to engage and support the rail sections in a manner to enable movement of the rail sections along a longitudinal axis of said consist, and wherein said plural roller shelves are pivotally mounted to said roller racks between a loading position that provides clearance for placement of the rail sections from above the consist, and a transport position generally orthogonal to the rail sections to facilitate support thereof during transit and unloading of the consist.   
     
     
         9 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 8 , and wherein:
 said plural rail clamping shelves are rotatably coupled to said support frame along a vertical axis, and rotatable between said first position and said second position, and wherein   said second position aligns said plural rail clamping shelves in generally parallel alignment with said portion of the continuous rail sections, thereby facilitating the top loading.   
     
     
         10 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 8 , and wherein:
 said plural rail clamping shelves are replaceably coupled to said support frame between said first position and said second position to facilitate removal thereof for top loading, and replacement thereof for stacked support of the continuous rail sections.   
     
     
         11 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 8 , and wherein a portion of said rail clamp assemblies further comprise:
 plural hydraulic clamps arranged to apply clamp force against a corresponding portion of the continuous rail sections, to thereby retainable engage them against longitudinal movement with respect to said support frame.   
     
     
         12 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to said plural hydraulic clamps to provide said clamp force.   
     
     
         13 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 8 , and wherein said rail clamp assembly further comprises:
 plural clamp plates and fasteners for connection to said plural rail clamping shelves to apply clamp force against the base flanges of said portion of the continuous rail sections to thereby retainable engage them to said plural rail clamping shelves.   
     
     
         14 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 8 , and wherein said rail clamp assembly further comprises:
 plural conformal clamps and fasteners for connection to said plural rail clamping shelves to apply conformal clamp force against said portion of the continuous rail sections to thereby retainable engage them to said plural rail clamping shelves.   
     
     
         15 . The consist of flatcars for transporting continuous rail sections of  claim 8 , and further comprising;
 two end flatcars, each coupled to one of said two support flatcars, and having fixed thereto at least one of said roller racks, and each of said two end flatcars having a longitudinal barrier fixed adjacent to an unconnected end thereof, said longitudinal barriers having a door therein operable to open to thereby enable said rail sections to be drawn of an end of the consist of flatcars.   
     
     
         16 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 8 , and further comprising:
 plural twistlock fastener disposed between each of said plural rail clamping shelves and said support frame, to thereby enable selective engagement therebetween.   
     
     
         17 . The consist of flatcars of  claim 8 , and wherein:
 said support frame comprises two side supports and one center support, all vertically oriented, and wherein   said plural rail clamping shelves are disposed between said center support and one of said two side supports.