Patent ID: 6877226

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a container support cross-member for a rail road well car, the well car having a pair of first and second spaced apart end structures and a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams mounted to extend between the end structures, the side beams and end structures co-operating to define a well therebetween, to seat said method comprising the steps of: providing a first monolithic member having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion between the first and second ends; forming a first toe at the first end of the first member, said step of forming said first toe including forming a first upwardly extending flange; forming a second toe at the second end of the first member, said step of forming said second toe including forming a second upwardly extending flange; providing a load bearing interface adjacent to each of said first and second toes, upon which to seat respective corners of one end of a shipping container; forming bores in said first upwardly extending flange of said monolithic first member to permit the first toe to be attached by a mechanical fastener to the first side beam; and forming bores in said second upwardly extending flange to permit said second toe to be attached by a mechanical fastener to the second side beam.