Air Brakes and Train Handling Rules - Alaska Railroad

67 Car Equipment and Components6 7 CAR EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS67.1 Hand Brakes On CarsHand brakes on cars may be used to:• Secure cars against undesired movement• Control and stop cars in motion when they are not coupled in atrain or part of a switching movementNOTE: Use blocking to secure cars with inoperative handbrakes or to prevent movement during short duration switchingoperations.67.1.1 Determining Number Of Hand BrakesThe number of hand brakes depends on:• Grade and adhesion• Number of loaded and empty cars• Weather conditions (wind and temperature)67.1.2 Identifying Car EndsIdentify car ends as follows:• On cars with one hand brake, the “B” end of the car is the endwith the hand brake. The other end is the “A” end.• On cars with two hand brakes, the letters “A” and “B” arestenciled on the appropriate ends of the car.67.2 Knuckle IdentificationAmerican railroads use three types of coupler assemblies. Eachcoupler head and knuckle is marked with a letter indicating its type(see Figure 67-A).June 1, 1996 ARRC Air Brakes and Train Handling Manual 67-1