Brake Valve

S. Wayne Eissele · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 11:19 pm **Posts:** 37

Does anyone out there have an idea of what type valve this is? I have been able to find the patents, but the description is somewhat generic. I apologize for the poor quality of the images.

eze240 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:29 am **Posts:** 319

looks like a triple valve, maybe a type "p" from an old passenger car? I've seen two types, "L" and "P". L's attach directly to the brake cylinder, I don't think the P's do.

Jeffrey Fefferlyn · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:56 pm **Posts:** 46

Personally, I think this resembles a feed valve bracket moreover than a L triple valve. I could be (and most likely am) wrong, but I hope this provides some direction for you Wayne.

Take care,
Jeff

Howard P. · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:20 pm

Not an "L" valve. Looks to me to be some sort of ancient feed valve, perhaps mounted directly to the automatic brake valve in the cab.

And am curious now about what it really is...

Howard P.
Direct Release, CT

S. Wayne Eissele · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 11:19 pm **Posts:** 37

From what we can tell it is a feed valve. What type is the question.

joe6167 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:35 pm

I too will put my money on a Feed Valve. Here is a photo of an M-3-a feed valve from a Westinghouse 6-ET booklet.

Brendan Zeigler · **Joined:** Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:32 pm **Posts:** 51

Seeing as I'm the guy who stripped the valve and handed it to Wayne, I'll add what I know.

We are hoping to identify the type of valve in the interest of finding a parts list and other information regarding its function. It is, of course, a feed valve of some type. Nearly all of our equipment is equiped with M-3 feed valves, and a few older pieces having the B or C type valves. This valve is more modern than any of these, although it's outward appearance is very similar to the M-3. I cannot find any information in our collection that shows a picture of this type of valve that would aid in its identification. Any help would be appreciated.

Paul D · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:24 pm

It looks like the body for a F-3-B single pressure or an F-4-B double pressure feed valve The New York parts catalog says they use the same body. WABCO part #501187 NYAB part #EV-2180.

joe6167 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:55 pm

Here is what I was able to dig up on the New York Air Brake F-3-B and F-4-B Feed Valves

Jeffrey Fefferlyn · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:56 pm **Posts:** 46

My guess would be that this feed valve bracket came off a NYAB 14 EL stand. Brendan, did you happen to strip this off the 9331? Just curious, as it seems that this type of feed valve was associated with 14-EL brake equipment found on older diesel-electric switching locomotives.

Jeff

CCDW · **Joined:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:30 pm **Posts:** 211

This is a "C" valve common to number 6 air and used in conjunction with a quick acting freight triple. These are pre-K era.

Brendan Zeigler · **Joined:** Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:32 pm **Posts:** 51

F-3-B it is. I thought that may be the case, but seeing as the NY air brake catalog in our shop is missing the sections on the F3 and F4 valves, and interestingly enough skips right to F6, I could not verify. This valve is one that we had in storage in our "boxcar o' brake valves". 9331 is equipped with M3 valves and 8618 has a D-24-B. The use of this valve will be in a non-standard application, probably not worth the time to describe. Thanks to all for the information.

garyrsatx · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:34 pm

Ok, this topic has given me a lead on a quest I'm on!

I'm working on the inventorying the air brake parts on the SP 794 and came across two of these mounted in our cab. One of the F-3-B valves is mounted directly to the backside of our automatic brake valve. Now according to our 6-ET brake diagram, these are suppose to be M-3-A valves, but are not shown to be attached to anything and are freestanding.

I would appreciate any help I can get on this. I'm a diesel guy. Steam is new to me and I'm still learning.

Gary R.
SA, TX

joe6167 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:39 pm

Gary,

What are the dates on your brake manuals and drawings? In my personal collection I have the 6-ET manuals from 1921 and 1932.

krumreich, Ted · **Joined:** Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:20 am **Posts:** 35

To Gary R: what you likely are looking at is a New York Air Brake F 3 B feed valve (see posts above). If you are looking at drawings or diagrams showing M 3 A feed valves, those are documents for a Westinghouse Air Brake system which is not the same as New York Air Brake and won't show a feed valve mounted as you described. You need to get a hold of a set of New York Air Brake books/diagrams to aid you.

If available to you, see page 959 of the 1930 Locomotive Cyclopedia for picture of an arrangement similar to what you described with a New York Air Brake F4 feed valve mounted directly to the H6 style brake valve.

Good luck

Ted Krumreich
Engineman
Strasburg Rail Road Company