Railcar brake arrangement

A railcar unit for carrying at least one highway trailer having a kingpin set of wheels, said railcar unit comprising:

• a pair of end structures supported by railcar trucks, and an intermediate structure connecting said end structures, at least one of said end structures having a hitch for engaging the kingpin of the highway trailer;
• a well defined between said end structures for receiving the wheels of the highway trailer;
• and
• a brake valve mounted to said railcar unit;
• said hitch being mounted higher than said brake valve relative to top of rail.

A rail road well car unit for carrying at least one highway trailer having a kingpin and a set of wheels, said well car unit comprising:

• a pair of end structures supported by railcar trucks, and an intermediate structure connecting said end structures;
• one of said end structures being an articulation end, said articulation end having a hitch for engaging the kingpin of the highway trailer;
• a well defined between said end structures for receiving the wheels of the highway trailer;
• a stub sill for mounting an articulated connector, and a main bolster having arms extending laterally from said stub sill, at least one of said arms having a relief formed therein to accommodate a brake valve;
• and
• a brake valve mounted to said well car unit at least partially within said relief, said brake valve being mounted lower than said hitch relative to top of rail.

A well car unit of an articulated railcar, the railcar unit having a length and being capable of carrying at least one highway trailer, the highway trailer having a kingpin and a set of wheels, said well car unit comprising:

• a pair of end structures, one of said end structures being an articulation connection end for connection to a truck, said articulation connection end having a hitch for engaging the kingpin of the highway trailer;
• an intermediate structure connecting said end structures;
• a well defined between said end structures, said well being capable of receiving the wheels of the highway trailer;
• a brake cylinder for actuating a brake of said well car unit;
• a brake valve connected to control said brake cylinder, said brake valve being mounted to said well car unit within half the length of said well car unit from said articulation connection end;
• a service brake reservoir connected to said brake valve;
• and
• an emergency brake reservoir connected to said brake valve;
• said service and emergency brake reservoirs being mounted to said well car unit at a level lower than said hitch relative to top of rail.

An articulated railcar having first and second rail car units joined together at an articulated connection, each of said railcar units having a respective articulation connection end and a length, wherein:

• said first railcar unit is a well car unit having
• a body having a pair of end structures having a well defined therebetween;
• said well being capable of receiving the wheels of a highway trailer;
• one of said end structures has a hitch for engaging a kingpin of the highway trailer;
• one of said railcar units has a brake cylinder connected to operate a brake of said railcar;
• one of said railcar units has a brake valve connected to control operation of said brake cylinder, said brake valve being mounted to said one articulated railcar unit less than half the length of said one railcar unit from said articulation connection end;
• one of said articulated railcar units has a service brake reservoir connected to said brake valve;
• one of said articulated railcar units has an emergency brake reservoir connected to said brake valve;
• and
• each of said brake valve, said service brake reservoir and said emergency brake reservoir is mounted to said railcar in a position lower than said hitch relative to top of rail.

An articulated railcar having at least two railcar units joined together by an articulation connector, each of said railcar units having an articulation connection end wherein one of said articulated railcar units is a well car unit having

• a pair of end structures, a pair of side beams connecting said end structures, said ends structures and said side beams defining a well therebetween;
• a service brake reservoir and an emergency brake reservoir separately mounted to said well car unit;
• and
• a brake valve mounted to said well car unit between said railcar units.