Apparatus for operating a vertical wheel hand brake

An apparatus (10) for operating a railway car vertical wheel hand brake (12). A hand brake wheel has a hub (16) fixed on an operating shaft (20). The operating shaft is rotatably mounted on the hand brake. The hand brake wheel (14) further has a reaction member (24). A brake release mechanism (30) is fixed on a brake release shaft (22) that is rotatably mounted on the hand brake. The reaction member is engageable with the brake release mechanism when the hand brake wheel is rotated, whereby the position of the brake release mechanism will provide a visual indicator of the brake status.