While cleaning out Tower 17 before we moved it off railroad propery, I found these in the back room in a bucket of grease. I cleaned them up but don't know what they were used for. I assume they came out of a locomotive cab.
The two on the left are engine brake handles, (Independant), and the two on the right are the train brake handles, (Automatic).
Thanks Jerry. Are they kind of standard issue or do they go with a particular era of locomotive or manufacturer? Why is one independant brake handle have a extra crank part to it and the other not?
They are all standard. Those would fit any EMD locomotive. The extra crank is a preference more then anything else. On some locomotives with Engineer chair armrests, the smaller one will hit the armrest. The other will not, as it goes over the top of the armrest. Another variation you will find is handles made of brass. These are alittle more on the rare side as they went to plastic now. Yours, (Independants),look like steel, so they are a good find.
I would say spares. Engineers are not required to carry their own brake handles. I carried my brass ones and used them when I ran Passenger trains, but that was more a 'pride' issue then anything else.
Thanks again Jerry. I did a Google search on "brake stand" and came up with this. I can now see where they go and how they work.
The handle on the far left is also the best type for actuating ie, bailing off the brake cylinder pressure from the locomotive brakes when using the automatic brake valve. CT
The handles you have are from a number 26 brake stand. The diagram is for a number 24 or number 6 brake stand. The handles on most 6 and early 24 stands were not removeable. Later 24 and all 26 stands had removeable handles unless the carrier had them pinned in place. There are always exceptions between different roads. On the B&M under ST operation I had a set of handles issued to me, on the CP(D&H) there are usually sets on each engine. Every engineer on either road carries there own reverser handle for the control stand, but some other roads leave them on the units as well. Originally these handles were made of metal, but are now made of delrin plastic. Modern locos use number 26 stands in some form or they have variations of the number 30 electronic brake. Number 30 stands do not have removeable handles.
Brake Handles They Can Be Used on Any EMD or GE Locomotive With the Standard Brake Stand But Not On Units With the Console Type Control Stand. DaveKfromUP daksr@hotmail.com
How did I miss this earlier? I could've dazzled you guys with my "JD like":teeth: knowledge. Oh Well !!!! It was good to see see them,hopefully soon they'll be in my hands again.:thumbs_up:
over the course of many years I have acquired a collection of brake handles, controller handles and reverser keys etc.for traction(streetcar,el/subway,interurban)equipment. To me they are like precious jewels
