I have noticed that well cars and old tofc cars that have five units have hand brakes on both ends vs 1,2,3 cars that have only one hand brake end. example is BNSF well cars in the 270xxx series. Dumb question which is the “B” end ? How do these 2 ended hand brake work differently than the usual 1 hand brake set up ?
The hand brakes on multi-unit cars cover only portions of the car nearest the wheel (I think you’ll find a third hand brake on the five-unit cars). So there’s not much difference–the brake-to-axle ratio is pretty consistent (a five-unit well car has six trucks, three hand brakes, just like three loose-unit cars).
As for which end is the B end, that’s designated on the car itself. Look at a five-unit car and you’ll find the unit designation somewhere near the number on the end units, and in a similar location on the middle units. They will come in the order B,C,D,E,A–so you’ll know from that which end is which (on a three-unit car they’re arranged B,C,A).