Trinity Rail Group, LLC

Robert J DeGroot

Kyle R Coston

David W Higginbotham

Gary V Turner

Kenneth W Huck

According to some embodiments, an apparatus comprises an air pump configured to couple to a capstan, and a pneumatic cylinder coupled to the air pump at a first end of the pneumatic cylinder. The pneumatic cylinder comprises a piston. Rotation of the capstan in a first rotational direction causes the air pump to provide air pressure to the first end of the pneumatic cylinder. In response to the air pump providing air pressure to the first end of the pneumatic cylinder, the piston of the pneumatic cylinder moves in a first linear direction. The piston is coupled to a longitudinal beam of a longitudinal door system of a railcar. In response to the piston moving in the first linear direction, the longitudinal beam moves in the first linear direction, opening a door of the longitudinal door system.

Capstan-driven air pump system for opening and closing a longitudinal railcar door

A method comprises removing a first deck of a plurality of decks and a second deck of the plurality of decks from an autorack. The method further comprises removing one or more of a plurality of posts of the autorack and coupling a cross-brace assembly to one or more of the plurality of posts, wherein the cross-brace assembly is coupled to the one or more of the plurality of posts at a location above an existing brace bay of the autorack. The method also comprises coupling the second deck of the plurality of decks to the autorack at a location above or below the cross-brace assembly.

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Keller, TX, United States of America

Robert J DeGroot