What is an Angle Cock?

What is an Angle Cock?

• A. A valve located at each end of a locomotive or car used to open or close the brake pipe.
• B. A device used to cut in and cut out the control valve.
• C. A pressure relief device on the reservoir.
• D. A switch for the train radio.

Answer: (A)

An angle cock is the valve you find at each end of a locomotive or railcar that controls the brake pipe. Its primary job is to open or close that pipe so you can connect or isolate the car from the train’s air brake system. When the angle cock is opened, air from the locomotive can flow into the car’s brake pipe, allowing the brakes to be charged and to respond to brake commands. When you need to disconnect or isolate a car (for coupling/uncoupling or maintenance), you close the angle cock so the rest of the train’s brake pipe remains intact and unaffected. In short, it’s the end-of-car on/off control for the train’s braking network. The other descriptions refer to different components: one describes something that interacts with the control valve, another is a safety device on the reservoir, and the last is unrelated to braking.

An angle cock is the valve you find at each end of a locomotive or railcar that controls the brake pipe. Its primary job is to open or close that pipe so you can connect or isolate the car from the train’s air brake system. When the angle cock is opened, air from the locomotive can flow into the car’s brake pipe, allowing the brakes to be charged and to respond to brake commands. When you need to disconnect or isolate a car (for coupling/uncoupling or maintenance), you close the angle cock so the rest of the train’s brake pipe remains intact and unaffected. In short, it’s the end-of-car on/off control for the train’s braking network. The other descriptions refer to different components: one describes something that interacts with the control valve, another is a safety device on the reservoir, and the last is unrelated to braking.