Hello, I have a simple question here:
When running a box car on the tracks should the break wheel point to the front or rear of the train?
Thank you.
scribbelt: The break wheel can point either way. I would have been a monumental task for railroads to have them in the same direction!
The only place all the BRAKE wheels would be on the same end of the cars would be on a rotary dump train and that would only be because the rotary ends would all be on the same end of the train.
You are absolutely correct that the B end (brake wheel end) will be randomly oriented in any other train. It doesn’t make any difference to the operation of the train which end the brake wheel is pointed.
Rolling stock would typically change directions depending on the route and what happens to them when they get to their destination. As noted earlier it would be pretty tough to keep them all the same direction. There would be little benefit in doing so.
Supposedly in the early years of railroading the B end face the A end of another freight car.This was due to brakeman using the brake wheels to stop or slow the train…After the introduction of air brakes it didn’t matter.
That was the theory in the early years but,I seen old 1885-1890 era photos of boxcars with brake stands brake wheel to brake wheel.
One other reason which would affect which way the brake-wheel end of the car faces in a train.
On an automobile box car, the end doors are located on the end OPPOSITE the end with the brake wheel. It may be necessary to have the car oriented so its end doors can open to a spur end platform for auto unloading. If there is a turntable or wye near the terminating point, the car can be turned there. Otherwise, it may need to be turned at the last yard that has a turning facility before the terminating point, and kept in the correct orientation until its destination.
Yes, a group of end loaded box cars would likley all be oriented the same way. BUT, in the days before auto racks, end loaded box cars for autos were rare, with most autos transported in double door 40’ and 50’ box cars that were side loaded.
Many were fitted with internal racks that allowed six autos to be carried in a 50’ box car, three above, three below, again all side loaded. This same rack system was applied to open 50’ flat cars in the early 50’s to save weight and led to the developement of the open auto rack which parralled the developement of longer piggy back flat cars.
Ironicly, the railroads soon learned that for reasons of theft, vandelism and accidental damage, that open auto racks were a bad idea - fast forward to today’s fully enclosed ones.
Sheldon
Ironicly, the railroads soon learned that for reasons of theft, vandelism and accidental damage, that open auto racks were a bad idea - fast forward to today’s fully enclosed ones.
Sheldon
Another reason transits would find a unlock car(or knew where the keys was hidden) and rode in comfort by laying on the back seat out of view-they have been known to start the motor on cold days.
Thank You.
Hello, thank you all very much for the infos, they are greatly appreciated.
Have a nice day [;)]