Patent ID: 7704025

Claim:
A retractable stanchion for supporting a semi-trailer during transport on a deck of a railcar, said stanchion comprising: a rear guide support assembly; a diagonal support strut coupled to said rear guide support assembly; and a vertical support strut operatively connected to said diagonal support strut, said vertical support strut comprises: a frame being pivotally mounted at a first end to the deck of the railcar and having a second end configured for coupling to a stanchion head; and a moveable pull-up assembly comprising a pull-up assembly first end and a pull-up assembly second end, said pull-up assembly first end pivotally coupled to and substantially disposed within said frame, said pull-up assembly second end spaced a distance from said pull-up assembly first end toward said second end of said frame, wherein said pull-up assembly is configured to be engaged by a tractor hook and rotated from an engagement position away from said frame to a pull position, wherein the pull position facilitates rotating said vertical support strut from a first horizontal retracted position to a second vertical erected position.