FWRHS seeking L3a brake valves

nathansixchime · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:03 pm **Posts:** 948

Quote:

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is trying to locate three L3a Brake Valves. The L3a brake valves were used on new passenger cars from about 1910 to 1930. They have a three bolt pattern that is positioned at 12 o'clock, 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock and has a bolting face (pipe bracket) that is about 9-10" in diameter. There is a slightly larger version with a 4-bolt pattern that looks the same but is not interchangeable. Fort Wayne needs the 3- bolt pattern.

The Society can offer in trade a 69" driver tire from NKP 765's last overhaul, suitable cash price or something more creative.

The L3a brake valves were slightly newer than the P-series brake valves used on wooden cars and were used immediately prior to the UC brake valves of the heavyweight Pullman era.

Please contact board member Wayne York at 419-235-0404 if you can help, or know of where one or more of these might be available.

Please forward this request to all parties that you can think of..

This is an important search for the FWRHS.

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Brian Norden · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:49 pm

Are you sure you want L-3 valves?

My understanding is:

Mike Tillger · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:56 pm

My L manual agrees with Brian for what it is worth.
Mike Tillger

nathansixchime · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:03 pm **Posts:** 948

The PTB inform me we need the 3 mounting holes.

bory2502 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2014 12:44 pm

Try contacting Multi-Service in PA. They had a large inventory of older brake valves and associated parts the last time we were there a couple months ago.

JeffH · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:44 pm **Posts:** 239

What size brake cylinder and/or what is the weight of the car?

Triple valves with 3 mounting holes are size 2, as in L-2, K-2, P-2 etc.

An L3 would have 4 holes and would be for heavier equipment, generally a brake
cylinder 14" or larger.

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Sun Aug 10, 2014 1:19 am

Westinghouse designed the bolt-mating pattern to avoid miss-matching of valve to the cylinder. The mating surface was cast with the pressure end of the cylinder.

If the mating surface on the cylinder has three bolts, then the L-2 valve is used. If two bolts, the L-1 is used and if four bolts the L-3 is used.