Offset side bearing structure for well car

Abstract

A railway car train includes five railway car units comprising two end units and three intermediate units. Each end unit is configured for coupler connection to conventional railway cars. The car units are connected to each other by articulated connections wherein the ends of adjacent car units are supported on a single truck. Mating male and female side bearing arm structures are provided on adjacent ends of car units. The end structures of the car units have reinforcement structures to support side bearing arms in either the male or female configuration so that a single design of end structure may be used for either a male or a female configuration. The end structures are provided with offset shear plates having an elevated center portion to allow clearance for large-wheeled trucks while keeping the side structures of the car low enough to provide clearance for unloading the car unit. The reinforcement structure for the side bearing arms serves the additional role of reinforcing the offset shear plate member for beaming loads laterally. The offset shear plate results in elevated side bearing arms on the end structure. A side bearing support structure is provided on the truck which elevates the side bearings to the level of the side bearing arms. The side bearing support structure supports guide means which guide a brake chain extending between the car units along a path which minimizes variations in tension due to relative pivoting of the car units.