A system for monitoring operation of a railcar having one or more sensing units, mounted on the railcar, for monitoring operating parameters and or conditions of the railcar, and a communication management unit, in wireless communication with the sensing units, wherein the system can make a determination of an alarm condition based on data collected the sensing units. A temperature sensor device for use in such a system is also provided.

A system for monitoring operation of a railcar having one or more sensing units, mounted on the railcar, for monitoring operating parameters and or conditions of the railcar, and a communication management unit, in wireless communication with the sensing units, wherein the system can make a determination of an alarm condition based on data collected the sensing units. A temperature sensor device for use in such a system is also provided.

A locking mechanism for a brake cylinder that has a tube surrounding the hollow shaft of the brake cylinder with a first set of teeth formed along an outer surface thereof. A gate having a second set of teeth corresponding to the first set of teeth is moveable in between a first position, wherein the first and second set of teeth are engaged to prevent movement of the brake cylinder piston, and a second position where the first and second set of teeth are disengaged to allow movement of the brake cylinder piston. A spring biases the gate into the locked position and a supplemental piston responsive to a source of brake pipe pressure can move the gate into the unlocked position so that the main piston is free to move.

A locking mechanism for a brake cylinder that has a tube surrounding the hollow shaft of the brake cylinder with a first set of teeth formed along an outer surface thereof. A gate having a second set of teeth corresponding to the first set of teeth is moveable in between a first position, wherein the first and second set of teeth are engaged to prevent movement of the brake cylinder piston, and a second position where the first and second set of teeth are disengaged to allow movement of the brake cylinder piston. A spring biases the gate into the locked position and a supplemental piston responsive to a source of brake pipe pressure can move the gate into the unlocked position so that the main piston is free to move.

A handbrake operating linkage for a railroad tank car, in which a hand wheel used to provide tension in the linkage is located on a lateral side of the car body, near an end of the car and at a height permitting a person standing on the ground alongside the tank car to set the handbrake. The hand wheel is located on the car at an end of the car opposite the end at which an airbrake cylinder-and-piston assembly is located, and the linkage extends from an airbrake cylinder lever to the hand wheel by way of a direction-reversing lever and a bell crank, avoiding a requirement for parts of the linkage to pass through direction-changing sheave wheels.

A handbrake operating linkage for a railroad tank car, in which a hand wheel used to provide tension in the linkage is located on a lateral side of the car body, near an end of the car and at a height permitting a person standing on the ground alongside the tank car to set the handbrake. The hand wheel is located on the car at an end of the car opposite the end at which an airbrake cylinder-and-piston assembly is located, and the linkage extends from an airbrake cylinder lever to the hand wheel by way of a direction-reversing lever and a bell crank, avoiding a requirement for parts of the linkage to pass through direction-changing sheave wheels.

A handbrake operating linkage for a railroad tank car, in which a hand wheel used to provide tension in the linkage is located on a lateral side of the car body, near an end of the car and at a height permitting a person standing on the ground alongside the tank car to set the handbrake. The hand wheel is located on the car at an end of the car opposite the end at which an airbrake cylinder-and-piston assembly is located, and the linkage extends from an airbrake cylinder lever to the hand wheel by way of a direction-reversing lever and a bell crank, avoiding a requirement for parts of the linkage to pass through direction-changing sheave wheels.

A handbrake operating linkage for a railroad tank car, in which a hand wheel used to provide tension in the linkage is located on a lateral side of the car body, near an end of the car and at a height permitting a person standing on the ground alongside the tank car to set the handbrake. The hand wheel is located on the car at an end of the car opposite the end at which an airbrake cylinder-and-piston assembly is located, and the linkage extends from an airbrake cylinder lever to the hand wheel by way of a direction-reversing lever and a bell crank, avoiding a requirement for parts of the linkage to pass through direction-changing sheave wheels.

The current invention relates to a method for monitoring a hand brake (1) of at least one rail wagon, preferably unpowered rail wagon, comprising a chassis by means of a monitoring system (33, 34); said hand brake comprising a hand-operated mechanical device, a brake linkage system and at least one brake pad; said hand-operated mechanical device, said brake linkage system and said at least one brake pad mechanically connected; said monitoring system comprising a detection module and a monitoring module; said detection module comprising at least one detector element (33, 34); said monitoring module comprising a processor, tangible non-volatile memory, instructions on said memory for instructing said processor; said method comprising a plurality of steps.

A railroad brake stick includes a head made of non-metal material (e.g., polymer). The head includes a planar shape with a proximal end, a distal end, a lower side, and an upper side. The lower side includes a curved recess and the upper side on the distal end of the head includes a protrusion. The railroad brake stick further includes a substantially hollow shaft made of the composite material. The substantially hollow shaft includes a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the proximal end of the head. The railroad brake stick further includes at least one magnet coupled to the substantially hollow shaft and an end cap coupled to the second end of the substantially hollow shaft.