Doesn't matter

I think you are asking what end the brake wheel is on.  Doesn't matter (technically its on the B end) the cars operate the same either way and there is zero effort expended to get the brake wheels aligned. 

The only  place the brake wheels get aligned is on a rotary dump train where the rotary ends are aligned and so the B ends of the cars get aligned by default. 

Thanks Dave1905 So when

Thanks Dave1905

So when they are first produced the car is I assume on a factory assembly line and come out A end first. So upon arrival at the destination yard they are all lined up according to the A or lead, which puts the brake wheel on the B or dead end, right?

I can understand reversing passenger cars, not freight.

RJ

Nope

When the cars are built, the factory may indeed have the same A/B end orientation due to how the assembly line is set up (different plants might have the B end on say the east end of the car, others on the west end, or whatever though, or different types of cars might have the B end facing opposite directions in the same plant).  It would make no difference which end was first out, and once the finished car got out to the rail line serving the plant, it would be just as likely to go either direction, so maybe half would depart A end first and the rest B end first.  As they traveled for their first revenue trips, the orientation would become random and stay that way.  Cars move around wyes and junctions, and orientation changes all the time.  Nobody watches or cares.

I've never heard this "head end" or "dead end" lingo either.  Not sure what significance it has.

It doesn't matter

the factory builds them all the same direction, so conceiveably for the first 24 hours after the cars are released from the plant they might be pointed the same way.  But once they get switched the first time all bets are off they will scatter in many directions and so will end up with the brake end being mixed.  Nobody cares which end the brake wheel is on, its totally random.  There is no attempt to line cars up by the brake wheel end and the cars get turned around by the various routes they travel. 

I have worked for railroads for over 30 year and have never heard the A end called the lead end or the B end the dead end.

Dead end?

Thanks for bringing this up.

Thanks for bringing this up. Me being a German that knows close to nothing about how US railroads operate I've always wondered about the correct orientation of freight cars. Now I know!

Interesting concept about

Interesting concept about being from Europe and not knowing how something was done in the states. One thing that I always find surprising is the size in area of the countries in Europe compared to the United States. This maybe lost on others as well because the maps are often shown to a scale that fits the page rather than the same scale. For example France or Germany a couple of the larger countries in area will fit inside Texas with room to spare, that still leaves another 49 states. Distances in European nations are much shorter than in the states and may account for some of the big differences in operation and equipment usage. I'm sure there are many other factors such as borders clearances etc that play a big part as well.

Rob in Texas

Rotary Dump Cars

When we talk about A & B ends don't forget how that interacts with rotary dump cars. The rotary is always on the same end unless the train has a double rotary. The B end is the non rotary end. Also, three packs, 5 platform cars, etc. are each different. For example the hand brake on 5 platform cars are on each end and the A & B is for identlfication only.

Jerome-OKC

And don't forget that almost

And don't forget that almost 1.5 Texas' can fit into Ontario, but I digress.

Steve

Lead end on freight cars

I have heard of lead and trail on a car when talking about moving them. I know we have a rule regarding gravity moves that you have to operate them on the trailing end facing the movement. If you are on the leading end you would be backwards looking over your shoulder and are at risk of falling under the car.

There are cars that have brake wheels on both ends, but the factory designates one end as the "A" and one end as the "B"

Thanks all for being so generous with your knowledge

This is the site I got the lead & dead ends from, "www.railway-technical.com/us-musp.shtml‎"

In your context, lead refers

In your context, lead refers to the front locomotives in MU operation as coupled to a train.  Dead means a locomotive that is not operating, that is, it died,either while in MU operation, or was added to the loco consist as a dead loco moving to some destination for repair or scrap.  In either case, this does not specify which way the loco is facing versus movement, only placement in the MU consist.

The term "lead" does not apply to freight or passenger equipment except in reference to the "first" car in a string. And "dead" doesn't apply at all.

An Aside/chuckle to Michael - best orientation for a freight car - I always find "topside up" works best, and am especially elated when it includes "wheels on the track".  Anything more becomes a challenge for me!!!

 In the "Lead or Dead"

In the "Lead or Dead" position, the independent brakes are controlled from this unit.

You have completely misunderstood what is being discussed.  The "position" is the position of a valve on the brake controls of an engine.  The valve has a position of lead and a position of dead (I believe it also has a position of "trail").  If the locomotive is the lead engine in a consist, then the valve handle is placed in the "lead" position.  If the locomotive is being hauled dead (not running) then the valve handle is placed in the "dead" position.  Depending on which position other valve is placed in it changes whether the independent brake valve on that unit will control the independent brakes on the other units in the consist.

The quote has nothing to do with cars, handbrakes or the relative positions of cars or the handbrake ends of cars.  It is entirely about how to set up the control of the brakes on an engine.

And don't forget that almost - Plus

And 14 Ontarios would fit in Western Australia!!

But I digress further!!

Graeme Nitz

Front end

I read someplace that the B end is considered the front; however, this was quite some time after I had started a log of bad order cars, and considered the A (non-brake) end to be the front, so I still haven't changed over the repair logs.  In cases where there is a C, D, or E -- e.g. on an articulated car like a well car -- those are considered to follow the B unit and end, while the A unit and end is considered the rear!

-Fuzzy
DM Rail Group
 

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