Modular railcar

Abstract

Various embodiments of a modular railcar be used to provide transportable, self-contained retail access to assorted products and services. The railcar technology utilizes a flatcar base and provides for modular, interchangeable railcar bodies. The railcar bodies utilize multiple moveable panels that may be positioned as walls or roofing when the railcar is in a transport configuration and, when the railcar is stopped in a desired market, moved into a deployed configuration to expand the square footage and usable volume of the railcar. When some or all of the moveable panels are in the deployed configuration, the railcar may become accessible to the public as a retail location. The modular railcar bodies may be interchanged as needed to serve different intended purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rail car comprising:
 a. a modular flat car having a top surface and bottom surface;   b. a removable box-shaped enclosure comprising a floor, a roof, one or more first side sections rotatably mounted to the roof, and opposing end walls, the enclosure defining an interior space;   c. wherein the one or more first side sections are rotatably connected to the roof by a plurality of hinges and are configured to be movable between an open position to provide access to the interior space and a closed position to enclose the interior space.   
     
     
         2 . The rail car of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure further comprises one or more second side sections pivotably connected to the floor and are configured to be movable between an open position to form a lateral floor space extended from the floor of the enclosure, and a substantially closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The rail car of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first side sections overlap a portion of a corresponding one of the one or more second side section when the one or more first side sections and the one or more second side sections are in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The rail car of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first side sections comprise gull-wing doors mounted to the roof and form a roof extension in the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The rail car of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure forms an extended continuous floor extending laterally when the one or more first side sections and the one or more opposing second side sections are in the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The rail car of  claim 2 , the rail car further comprising stabilizers pivotably connected to a bottom of the modular flat car wherein the stabilizers are configured to be movable from a transport position to a deployed position to reduce unwanted movement of the rail car. 
     
     
         7 . The rail car of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the opposing end walls defines an exterior compartment configured for storage space separate from the interior space. 
     
     
         8 . The rail car of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is refrigerated. 
     
     
         9 . The rail car of  claim 1 , wherein the roof and exterior comprise solar panels. 
     
     
         10 . The rail car of  claim 1 , wherein the rail car is self-propelled. 
     
     
         11 . A method for converting a rail car into a stage, the rail car comprising a modular flat car and an enclosure having a floor, a roof, first side sections rotatably mounted to the roof, opposing second side sections rotatably mounted along a lower edge to the floor, and opposing end walls; the method comprising:
 a. Applying stabilizers to an under surface of the flat car to reduce unwanted movement;   b. Pivotably opening one or more of the first side sections to a raised overhead position;   c. Pivotably rotating at least one of the one or more opposing second side sections downward and outward to a substantially horizontal position planar with the floor of the enclosure.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 d. Installing roofing supports to the raised one or more first side sections.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 e. Installing flooring supports to the lowered one or more second side sections.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the opening of the one or more first side sections or the opening of the one or more second side sections is performed automatically. 
     
     
         15 . A method for converting a rail car into a stage, the rail car comprising a modular flat car and an enclosure having a floor, a roof, one or more first side sections rotatably mounted to the roof, and opposing end walls; the method comprising:
 a. applying stabilizers to an under surface of the flat car to reduce unwanted movement;   b. pivotably opening the one or more first side sections to a raised overhead position;   c. sliding floor panels from a stored position within the enclosure floor to an extended position planar with the floor of the enclosure.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a. Installing roofing supports to the raised one or more first side sections.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 b. Installing flooring supports to the lowered one or more second side sections.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the opening of the one or more first side sections or the sliding of the floor panels is performed mechanically. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the opening of the one or more first side sections or the sliding of the floor panels is performed automatically. 
     
     
         20 . A method for converting a rail car into a stage, the rail car comprising a modular flat car and an enclosure having a floor, a roof, one or more first side sections pivoting upward, one or more second side sections pivoting downward, and opposing end walls; the method comprising:
 a. applying stabilizers to an under surface of the flat car to reduce unwanted movement;   b. sliding roof panels from a stored position within the enclosure roof to an extended position planar with roof of the enclosure;   c. sliding floor panels from a stored position within the enclosure floor to an extended position planar with the floor of the enclosure.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising:
 a. raising one or more of the first side sections and installing roofing supports to the raised side sections.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising:
 a. lowering one or more of the second side sections and installing flooring supports to the lowered one or more second side sections.   
     
     
         23 . A rail car comprising:
 a. a modular flat car having a top surface and bottom surface;   b. a removable box-shaped enclosure comprising a floor, a roof, a pair of opposed first side sections rotatably mounted to the roof, and opposing end walls, the enclosure defining an interior space;   c. wherein the opposed first side sections are rotatably connected to the roof by a plurality of hinges and are configured to be movable between an open position to provide access to the interior space and a closed position to enclose the interior space; and   d. a pair of opposed second side sections pivotably connected to the floor and configured to be movable between an open position to form a lateral floor space extended from the floor of the enclosure, and a substantially closed position.   
     
     
         24 . The rail car of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more first side sections comprise gull-wing doors mounted to the roof and form a roof extension in the open position. 
     
     
         25 . A rail car comprising:
 a. a modular flat car having a top surface and bottom surface;   b. a removable box-shaped enclosure comprising a floor, a roof, one or more first side sections rotatably mounted to the floor, and opposing end walls, the enclosure defining an interior space;   c. wherein the one or more first side sections are rotatably connected to the floor by hinges and are configured to be movable between an open position to provide access to the interior space and a closed position to enclose the interior space.   
     
     
         26 . The rail car of  claim 25 , wherein the enclosure further comprises one or more second side sections pivotably connected to the roof and configured to be movable between an open position to form a lateral extended roof from the roof of the enclosure, and a substantially closed position. 
     
     
         27 . The rail car of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more first side sections overlap a portion of a corresponding one of the one or more second side section when the one or more first side sections and the one or more second side sections are in the closed position. 
     
     
         28 . The rail car of  claim 26 , wherein the enclosure forms an extended continuous floor extending laterally when the one or more first side sections are in the open position. 
     
     
         29 . The rail car of  claim 25 , the rail car further comprising stabilizers pivotably connected to an underside surface of the modular flat car, wherein the stabilizers are configured to be movable from a transport position to a deployed position to reduce unwanted movement of the rail car. 
     
     
         30 . The rail car of  claim 26 , the rail car further comprising stabilizers pivotably connected to a bottom of the modular flat car wherein the stabilizers are configured to be movable from a transport position to a deployed position to reduce unwanted movement of the rail car. 
     
     
         31 . The rail car of  claim 25 , wherein the roof comprises solar panels. 
     
     
         32 . The rail car of  claim 25 , wherein the rail car is self-propelled.