[igmuska]

I just wondering whether the brake wheel is the front or back of a typical rolling stock car?

 

[shaygetz]

With the exception of cranes, cabeese, MOW equipment and certain passenger cars, there is no front or back to cars. When cabooses were used, most were never turned at the end of a run, being equipped in a way where the crew could see from either direction anyway.

 

[igmuska]

I keep thinking that once they uncouple a car, the brakeman/switchman rides the uncoupled car, then turns the brake wheel to stop it; hence it has to be on the front?

 

[Boston&Maine]

Railroads do not pay any attention to where the brake wheel is... It would be a waste of time to turn around a "backwards" facing piece of rolling stock...

But, this is your railroad, so do what you feel is best!

 

[igmuska]

Boston, that makes sense also. That brake wheel was just bothering me; on my Bethgons, they are the back with the logo. Every photo I've seen of those unit train coalporters, the logo is usually at the back with the brake wheel. I guess I'll just keep the brake wheels in the back although something tells me they used to be in the front.

 

[tjcruiser]

When cabooses were used, most were never turned at the end of a run, being equipped in a way where the crew could see from either direction anyway.

Shay,

On old traditional cupola cabooses (with the cupola closer to one end), I've always wondered which way was "in the front". According to your comment, there was no real front.

Interesting ... very interesting.

Thanks!

TJ

 

[Reckers]

An opinion, not to be mistaken as knowing what I'm talking about.

Agreed, most cars have no front or back end: engines, tenders, and some passenger units excepted. However, if I were a brakeman, the car would definitely have a front and back. *L* If I'm trying to apply the brake on any moving car, I would be grabbing the wheel on the back end. That way, a sudden deceleration would throw me into the rear wall of the car instead of pitching me over the coupling and under the wheels. I suspect that brakemen who disagreed with my premise had short careers.