Abstract: A hand brake lever for use on a truck mounted type railway car brake system includes a first elongated portion which is horizontally disposed when the hand brake lever is installed in such car brake system and a second elongated portion which is connected to first elongated portion and which is disposed in a generally vertical direction and at a predetermined angle so that a second end of the second elongated portion is spaced at a predetermined distance from such truck bolster when the hand brake lever is installed in such system. A plurality of apertures are formed though the first elongated portion for connecting the hand brake lever to each of a brake actuator, a brake beam, a slack adjuster trigger mechanism, and a slack adjuster mechanism. An aperture is formed through the second elongated portion for connecting hand brake chain thereto.