Abstract: A jointed hand brake release handle for a railway car hand brake mechanism, having a lever arm with an inner end attachable to a rotatable hand brake release post of a hand brake mechanism, and an extension arm pivotally attached to the outer end of the lever arm and adapted for pivotal movement such that a contact face on the inner end of the lever arm can be brought into contact with a contact face on the outer end of the lever arm, and such that continued pivotal movement of the extension arm will cause rotational movement of the lever arm and rotation of the hand brake release post.

Abstract: A two piece hand brake release handle for a railway car hand brake mechanism having a relatively long lever one end of which is rotably fitted onto a rotatable brake release post extending from the hand brake mechanism, such that manual rotation thereof will not cause rotation of the brake release post, and a relatively short lever arm tightly fitted onto the brake release post such that rotation thereof will cause rotation of the brake release post, with the relatively short lever arm having an arm engaging flange extending transversely to receive and engage the relatively long lever arm such that manual rotation of the long lever arm in a given rotational direction will cause the long lever arm to engage the flange so that continued rotational movement of the long lever arm in the same rotational direction will cause rotational movement of the short lever arm, and accordingly, rotational movement of the brake release post as necessary to effect a brake release.