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A railcar deck channel pivoting side wall apparatus and methods of making and using the same are provided. Specifically, the railcar deck channel pivoting side wall apparatus comprises a pivoting side wall arranged within a railcar deck channel to allow for the easy installation and/or removal of ch

A railcar deck channel pivoting side wall apparatus and methods of making and using the same are provided. Specifically, the railcar deck channel pivoting side wall apparatus comprises a pivoting side wall arranged within a railcar deck channel to allow for the easy installation and/or removal of chain assemblies on railcar decks for the transport of heavy items thereon.

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1. A deck channel system on a railcar comprising: a deck channel comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall, the first side wall comprising a first flange comprising a first plurality of slots, and the second side wall comprising a second flange comprising a second plurality

1. A deck channel system on a railcar comprising: a deck channel comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall, the first side wall comprising a first flange comprising a first plurality of slots, and the second side wall comprising a second flange comprising a second plurality of slots, the first and second flanges and the first and second plurality of slots configured to hold a securement device within the deck channel,wherein the deck channel further comprises a pivoting side wall section disposed in the first side wall, said pivoting side wall section comprising a side wall portion, and a hinge rigidly held to the bottom wall, wherein said side wall portion pivots on the hinge,wherein the pivoting side wall section has an up position and a down position, said pivoting side wall section disposed in an open section in the first side wall. 2. The deck channel system of claim 1 wherein the side wall portion comprises a third flange comprising a plurality of slots extending from an edge of the side wall portion. 3. The deck channel system of claim 2 wherein the third flange is disposed in alignment with the first flange of the first side wall when the pivoting side wall section is in the up position. 4. The deck channel system of claim 1 wherein the hinge comprises a sleeve rigidly held to the side wall portion, and further wherein a pin disposed within the sleeve is rigidly held to the bottom wall, wherein the sleeve and the pin are configured to allow the side wall portion to pivot between the up position and the down position. 5. The deck channel system of claim 1 wherein the side wall portion, when disposed in the down position, is configured to expose the open section in the first side wall. 6. The deck channel system of claim 5 wherein the securement device is configured to fit through the open section in the first side wall and be disposed within the deck channel when the side wall portion is in the down position. 7. The deck channel system of claim 1 wherein the securement device is a tie-down anchor. 8. The deck channel system of claim 4 wherein the sleeve is welded to the side wall portion and the pin is welded to the bottom wall. 9. The deck channel system of claim 8 wherein the pin is also welded to the first side wall. 10. The deck channel system of claim 1 further comprising: a plate covering the open section and rigidly held to the first side wall and configured to contact the side wall portion when the side wall portion is in the up position. 11. The deck channel system of claim 1 further comprising: a securement device held by the first and second flanges and the first and second plurality of slots within the deck channel. 12. A method of securing a securement device within a deck channel on a railcar, the method comprising the steps of: providing a deck channel comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall, the first side wall comprising a first flange comprising a first plurality of slots, and the second side wall comprising a second flange comprising a second plurality of slots, the first and second flanges and the first and second plurality of slots configured to hold a securement device within the deck channel, wherein the deck channel further comprises a pivoting side wall section disposed in the first side wall, said pivoting side wall section comprising a side wall portion, and a hinge rigidly held to the bottom wall, wherein said side wall portion pivots on the hinge, wherein the pivoting side wall section has an up position and a down position, said pivoting side wall section disposed in an open section in the first side wall; andmoving the pivoting side wall section into the down position, exposing the open section in the first side wall; andplacing a securement device into the deck channel through the exposed open section when the pivoting side wall section is in the down position. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the side wall portion comprises a third flange extending from an edge thereof, the third flange comprising a third plurality of slots, and further comprising the step of: aligning the third flange of the side wall portion within the first flange of the first side wall when the pivoting side wall section is in the up position. 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of: securing the securement device to the third flange when the pivoting side wall section is in the up position. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the securement device is a tie-down anchor. 16. A method of making a pivoting side wall section in a deck channel on a railcar, the method comprising the steps of: providing a deck channel on a railcar comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall, the first side wall comprising a first flange comprising a first plurality of slots, and the second side wall comprising a second flange comprising a second plurality of slots, the first and second flanges and the first and second plurality of slots configured to hold a securement device within the deck channel;removing a section of the first side wall to form an open section in the first side wall;providing a pivoting side wall section comprising a side wall portion and a hinge;rigidly connecting the hinge to the deck channel so that the pivoting side wall section pivots between an up position and a down position. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the hinge comprises a sleeve rigidly held to the side wall portion and a pin, wherein the pin is rigidly connected to the bottom wall of the deck channel. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the pivoting side wall section further comprises a third flange extending from an edge of the side wall portion, wherein the flange comprises a third plurality of slots and further wherein the third flange of the pivoting side wall section is in alignment with the first flange of the first side wall when the pivoting side wall section is in the up position. 19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: welding a plate to the first side wall covering the open section in the first side wall to contact the pivoting side wall section when the pivoting side wall section is in the up position. 20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: welding a portion of the hinge to the bottom wall of the railcar deck channel so that the pivoting side wall section pivots on the hinge between the up position and the down position.