Describes a railcar that has a continuous brake pipe running from one end to the other, allowing air to pass through to the rest of the train, but which does not have its own operational air brakes. This allows the car to be placed within a train consist without breaking the pneumatic continuity required to control the cars behind it.
Put that piped flatcar in the middle of the consist so we don't lose our trainline air to the rear.
Piped cars reduce the total braking effort of the train, so dispatchers and engineers must factor them into stopping distance calculations.
Related terms
Brake pipe
The air line running the full length of a train that charges and controls every car's brakes.
Train pipe
The continuous pneumatic line running the length of a train to control the air brakes.
Triple valve
The core control valve in a railway air brake system that charges, applies, and releases the brakes.