A historic term for freight cars or entire trains that lack automatic air brakes connected to the locomotive. These cars relied entirely on manual handbrakes set by brakemen riding the train. Operating unfitted stock required precise coordination between the engineer and the train crew to control speed on grades.
Heard on the job
You can't run that museum piece on the main line, it's unfitted and won't tie into the train line.
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.
Brakie
A brakeman, the crew member who handles switches, couplings and hand brakes under the conductor.