Patent ID: 9623880
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B61D

Claim:
1. Apparatus for powering short trains on rails, said apparatus comprising: (a) a rail car, said rail car comprising a frame, said frame having a front, a rear, and a deck, said frame supported by a first bogie and by a second bogie, said first bogie having a first rail axle and a first pair of flanged main rail wheels located on opposing sides of said first rail axle, said first bogie located at or near the front of said frame, said second bogie having a second rail axle and a second pair of flanged main rail wheels located on opposing sides of said second rail axle, said second bogie located at or near the rear of said frame; a first gear system, said first gear system comprising a plurality of gears configured to receive motive power supplied from one or more external rail driving gears, and wherein said one or more external driving gears are located above said first pair of flanged main rail wheels; (b) a first over-the-road tractor, said first over-the-road tractor comprising an engine, a transmission, (c) wherein said deck includes apertures therein sized and shaped to accommodate therethrough said first and second sets of dual wheels, so that said when said first over-the-road tractor is placed on said deck, said first and second external rail driving gears are located in meshing engagement with said a first gear system for supply of motive power thereto from said engine of said first over-the-road tractor.