Which is the “A” end and which is the “B” end? I have been reading a lot of old posts on building PNG and Ozark Flatcar and Boxcar kits and noticed some folks post pictures with the “A” end and the “B” end. I didn’t know there was a difference, so my question is how do you tell which end is which? I am guessing it has something to do with the brake wheels?
Thanks in advance
Dave S
Correct – The “B end” is the Brake wheel end.
And if there is two hand brakes, it is the direction that brake cylinder points.
If you operate and want to complicate things, a lot of times boxcars have a ‘placard’ side, which is the side of the car that needs to point toward the unloading dock.
For cars with two brake wheels (a caboose for instance) the B end is the one with the retainer valve.
The A can B anyway you want it to be. For me I like to run with the brake wheels to the back. On cabooses the cupola is on the back end. It just feels right.
Here is a question what happens when a piece of rolling stock gets turned either on a table or a wye? That would mess up the brake wheel arrangement but in the end is the A still the A ?
The A and B ends are normally marked on the car. I used to put the B end towards the rear but my understanding is that the prototype makes up trains without thought to which end the brake wheel is on Unless there is a need for it. Cabooses generally have a hand brake on both ends but my cabooses all have marker lights preinstalled so that always goes to the rear.