Railcar structure for accommodating a brake valve

An articulated rail car unit having an articulation connection end for attachment to another rail car unit at an articulated connector, wherein:

• said articulated rail car unit includes a center sill, the center sill having an end to which the articulated connector is mounted;
• said articulation connection end of said articulated rail car unit includes a bolster having first and second arms extending laterally to either side of said center sill respectively, and a pair of first and second side bearing arms extending longitudinally away from said bolster toward the other rail car unit;
• said first arm of said bolster has a first portion lying between said center sill and said first side bearing arm, and a second portion lying laterally outboard of said first side bearing arm;
• a part of said second portion of said first bolster arm is longitudinally relieved away from the other rail car unit to accommodate a brake valve;
• and
• a brake valve is mounted adjacent to that longitudinally relieved part of said second portion of said first bolster arm.

An articulated rail car unit having:

• a center sill having a first end connected to an articulated connector;
• a bolster having arms extending to either side of the center sill;
• a pair of first and second side bearing arms extending longitudinally from said bolster arms;
• said first end of said center sill lying between said first and second side bearing arms;
• and
• at least one of said bolster arms having a relief formed therein for accommodating a brake valve, said relief being located outboard of one of said side bearing arms, said relief being formed to extend longitudinally away from the articulated connector;
• and
• a brake valve mounted at least partially within said relief.