Abstract: A car retarder shoe structure in which a removable shoe member is attached to the brake beam of a railway car retarder by means of bolts. Each bolt is tapered and the corresponding hole in the shoe is likewise tapered. The tapered portion of the bolt is at least as long as and conforms substantially to the taper of the hole. It is the tapered surface of the bolt shank seated against the tapered hole which serves to hold the shoe in place. The bolt head is shaped or contoured to contact a portion of the shoe and prevent rotation while the nut is being installed. Such structure permits the shoe to remain firmly attached to the brake beam under prolonged or excessive wear conditions caused by the retardation of passing car wheels, even though all or a substantial portion of the shoe and the bolt head are worn away.