the rail car cover upwardly and away from the path of the rail cars the tracks may convey the cover around a loading or unloading facility to a location for replacement of covers on the cars in a preferred embodiment the same cover removed from a selected car may be replaced on that car alternatively it may be desirable to place another cover on the selected car at the replacement location the mechanical device may be guided along an inclined track toward the path of the line of rail cars to permit the mechanical device to replace the cover and release it on top of the rail car covers may be removed from a moving train of rail cars on a continuous basis to be transported away from the rail car around a loading or unloading process then returned to the string of rail cars and replaced on the cars in yet another embodiment of the present invention the removed cover may be deposited by the cover lifting means on a transport cart or vehicle similar to a road trailer or purpose built car running on a guideway which may carry a plurality of covers away from the path of the rail cars the transport cart or similar vehicle may deliver a plurality of covers around.