Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling new and used railway car brake shoes is provided. The apparatus comprises a rack assembly, having an end wall interconnected between a pair of side walls and a grid member perimetrically secured to bottom edges of the side walls and end wall, which has the ends of the side walls abutted against one side of a rail of a railroad track and is secured to at least railroad tie of the railroad track. The method comprises storing new brake shoes in a plurality of the racks along the tracks, removing new shoes as needed to replace used shoes of railway cars, and replacing the used shoes in the racks.