N.Y. Railroad Law § 79

§ 79. Air-brakes. It shall be unlawful for any railroad or other\ncompany to haul or permit to be hauled or used on its line or lines\nwithin this state any freight train that has not a sufficient number of\ncars in it so equipped with continuous power or air-brakes that the\nengineer on the locomotive drawing such train can control its speed\nwithout requiring brakemen to use the common hand brake for that\npurpose.\n