Abstract: Railway braking apparatus for frictionally engaging and retarding the wheels of railroad cars which includes a series of pneumatic cylindrical operators located between two adjacent crossties along the trackway. The piston of each pneumatic cylindrical operator is coupled to a frictional braking bar through a mechanical advantage pivotal lever. Each lever is pivotally connected to a rigid welded frame assembly including apertured lugs and pivot pins. The rigid force absorbing frame assembly is carried by the two adjacent crossties and includes a crosspiece member to which the cylinder of each pneumatic cylindrical operator is pivotally connected. The pivotal lever is constructed of a plurality of plates, two bolt accommodating tubes and a series of filler plates or slotted shims which allow for the lateral adjustment of the frictional braking bars and permits quick and easy assembly and dismantling of the actuators, levers and braking bar.