Patent ID: 8230792

Claim:
A first container support cross member for a rail road well car, the well car having a pair of lengthwise spaced apart first and second end structures supported by rail car trucks for rolling motion in a longitudinal direction and a pair of cross-wise spaced apart first and second side beams extending lengthwise between the end structures, the well car having a well defined between the side beams, the well car having structure for supporting a shipping container in the well, that structure for supporting a shipping container in the well including at least said first container support cross member and a second container support cross member distantly spaced in said longitudinal direction from said first container support cross member, the rail road well car having a cross-wise extending cross-tie located intermediate the first and second container support cross members; when mounted in the well, the first container support cross member having a first end mounted to the first side beam of the rail road well car, and a second end mounted to the second side beam, said first container support cross member then being in a position to support one end of a shipping container carried within the well, wherein said first container support cross member comprises: a first member and a second member; the first member being a monolithic beam member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion between said first and second end portions; said first monolithic beam member not including end castings, and extending from an upstanding portion of the first side beam to an upstanding portion of the second side beam; said first end portion of said monolithic beam member being connected by mechanical fasteners to said first side beam at a first moment connection; said second end portion of said monolithic beam member being connected by mechanical fasteners to said second side beam at a second moment connection; said first container support cross member being operable when thus installed to resist sideways deflection of a top chord of each of the first and second side beams; said second member overlying said first end portion of said first member and defining a first seat upon which to seat a corner of an end of a shipping container; said second end portion of said first member having a second seat arranged thereon for seating another corner of a shipping container; and said first container support cross member not being a cross-tie.