A universal retarder system for slowing a railcar on rails. The system includes a lever arm configured to be pivotable within a vertical plane, where the lever arm is configured to support a brake shoe. An engagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe towards one of the rails. A disengagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe away from the one of the rails. The lever arm, engagement device, and disengagement device are each positioned between the rails. Pivoting the brake shoe towards the one of the rails is configured to force the brake shoe into engagement with the railcar to slow the railcar.

A universal retarder system for slowing a railcar on rails. The system includes a lever arm configured to be pivotable within a vertical plane, where the lever arm is configured to support a brake shoe. An engagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe towards one of the rails. A disengagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe away from the one of the rails. The lever arm, engagement device, and disengagement device are each positioned between the rails. Pivoting the brake shoe towards the one of the rails is configured to force the brake shoe into engagement with the railcar to slow the railcar.

A system for retarding a railcar. The system includes a brake and an actuator that moves the brake between a closed position in which the brake slows the railcar and an open position in which the brake does not slow the railcar. The system further includes a hydraulic circuit through which a hydraulic fluid flows between the actuator, a pump, and a reservoir. A variable speed motor drives the pump to supply the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the actuator. The variable speed motor is operable at a plurality of speeds between fully-on and fully-off states. A control system determines a speed setting within the plurality of speeds for operating the variable speed motor based on a pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit, the speed setting being determined such that the pressure is sufficient for operating the actuator.

A system for retarding a railcar. The system includes a brake and an actuator that moves the brake between a closed position in which the brake slows the railcar and an open position in which the brake does not slow the railcar. The system further includes a hydraulic circuit through which a hydraulic fluid flows between the actuator, a pump, and a reservoir. A variable speed motor drives the pump to supply the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the actuator. The variable speed motor is operable at a plurality of speeds between fully-on and fully-off states. A control system determines a speed setting within the plurality of speeds for operating the variable speed motor based on a pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit, the speed setting being determined such that the pressure is sufficient for operating the actuator.

A universal retarder system for slowing a railcar on rails. The system includes a lever arm configured to be pivotable within a vertical plane, where the lever arm is configured to support a brake shoe. An engagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe towards one of the rails. A disengagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe away from the one of the rails. The lever arm, engagement device, and disengagement device are each positioned between the rails. Pivoting the brake shoe towards the one of the rails is configured to force the brake shoe into engagement with the railcar to slow the railcar.

A universal retarder system for slowing a railcar on rails. The system includes a lever arm configured to be pivotable within a vertical plane, where the lever arm is configured to support a brake shoe. An engagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe towards one of the rails. A disengagement device is coupled to the lever arm and configured to pivot the brake shoe away from the one of the rails. The lever arm, engagement device, and disengagement device are each positioned between the rails. Pivoting the brake shoe towards the one of the rails is configured to force the brake shoe into engagement with the railcar to slow the railcar.

A retarder device configured for moving a braking rail to slow a railcar on a running rail. The retarder device is configured to be coupled to an actuator assembly. A lever pivotally couples the braking rail to the running rail. A block opposed the lever, the block having an engagement feature configured for operatively coupling the block to the actuator assembly. A biasing device is positioned between the lever and the block. The biasing device biases the lever to pivot to move the braking rail towards the running rail, wherein operating the actuator assembly compresses the biasing device for shimming the retarder device and/or for moving the braking rail away from the running rail.

A retarder device configured for moving a braking rail to slow a railcar on a running rail. The retarder device is configured to be coupled to an actuator assembly. A lever pivotally couples the braking rail to the running rail. A block opposed the lever, the block having an engagement feature configured for operatively coupling the block to the actuator assembly. A biasing device is positioned between the lever and the block. The biasing device biases the lever to pivot to move the braking rail towards the running rail, wherein operating the actuator assembly compresses the biasing device for shimming the retarder device and/or for moving the braking rail away from the running rail.