as shown on the 60foot car in sketch A below. Some vehicles can be double
tiered or inclined, as sketches B and C show for the 1/4ton truck,
depending upon their dimensions and weight and upon the size and load limit
of the flatcar.
1.8. SUMMARY
Generally found in fishbelly or nonfishbelly design, a flatcar has
three basic components: trucks, underframe, and platform or deck. Trucks
contain two or more pairs of wheels that ride on the rails, brake elements,
axles, etc. Centered in the top of each truck is a center plate or casting
that provides the receptacle for the complementary fitting on the
underframe, joining trucks and deck. The underframe, the skeleton to which
the deck is attached, takes the buffing and pulling stresses applied to the
flatcar and bears the weight of platform and load. Customarily made of wood
planking, the deck provides the surface upon which the load rests. Located
at one
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