Railcar brake head

A railcar brake head having an upper end, a lower end, and a pair of sides. The brake head further includes an elongated concave keyway defining an elongated axis and opening to the upper and lower ends of the brake head. At least a portion of the keyway is defined between a rear wall and spaced transversely extending upper and lower lugs. A front surface of each lug is adapted for mounting engagement with a brake shoe. The longitudinal spacing between the centralized upper and lower lugs is such that a keybridge extending from a rear face of the brake shoe is received and accommodated therebetween whereby inhibiting endwise movement of the brake shoe relative to the brake head. The centrally disposed upper lug on the brake head is configured with a camming surface, a longitudinal portion of which is arranged relative to the keyway for guiding and facilitating movement of a free end of an elongated key downwardly past the upper lug whereby permitting the key to establish a proper locking relation with the keybridge of the brake shoe.