RailCar Brakes of the most common type are Listed\Described\Depicted below, as used worldwide on Legacy\Modern railways. Brake types of Compatible\Like design often are known by different Make\Brand\Regional\Nick names.
Click any Image\Video below for a larger view. DeadLinks can sometimes be revived via the InternetArchive.
MANx Brakes
- ALSO KNOWN AS:
- > Manual Brakes
- > Hand Brakes
- OPERATION:
- > CarMounted HandCranks MechaniclyLinked To WheelMounted BrakeShoes
- > Requires BrakeMen Moving Car~Car Adjusting Cranks To Apply\Release Brakes
- > Commonly Used As Running Brake Befor 1893, Practice PhasedOut Due To Injury+Wrecks
- > Restricted By OperatingRules\Law To Use As Parking Brake Only After 1933
- DEVELOPMENTS:
- > 1893\SafetyApplianceAct\USDC
- MANUFACTURERS:
- > Ajax
- > Amsted\Faively\Ellcon
- > GrahamWhite
- > Peacock
- InfoLink
VACx Brakes
- ALSO KNOWN AS:
- > Vacuum Brakes
- > NegativePressure Brakes
- OPERATION:
- > If Coupler\Pipe Breaks, VACx Brakes AutoApply In Emergency\FailSafe Mode
- > Strength Limited By AtmosphericPressure, Severely Weakens With Altitude
- DEVELOPMENTS:
- > 1844 Nasymyth+May\Brit
- > 1860 N.Hodge\USMA
- > 1872 J.Smith\USPA
- > 1874 F.Eames\USNY
- STANDARDS:
- > Britain\BR
- > Australia\ROA
- > India\RDS
- > SouthAfrica\SAR
- MANUFACTURERS:
- > EamesVacuumBrake\USNY
- > Gresham&Craven\Brit
- APPLICATIONS:
- > Used On Some American Stock 1860~1892, Replaced By AIRx Brakes, Banned After 1900
- > Standard On BritishRail+Colonial Stock Before 1978, Replaced By AIRx Brakes
- > Standard On AustraliaRail Stock 1885~19??, Replaced By AIRx Brakes
- > Standard On IndiaRail Stock Before 1980, Replaced By AIRx Brakes
- > Standard On JapanRail Stock Before 1925, Replaced By AIRx Brakes
- > Standard On SouthAfricaRail Stock Before 19??, Replaced By AIRx Brakes
- InfoLink InfoLink InfoLink InfoLink
AIRx Brakes
- ALSO KNOWN AS:
- > Air Brakes
- > PositivePressure Brakes
- > Westinghouse Brakes
- OPERATION:
- > If Coupler\Pipe\Line Breaks, AIRx Brakes AutoApply In Emergency\FailSafe Mode
- DEVELOPMENTS:
- > 1848 S.Lister\Brit
- > 1868~1914 Westinghouse\USPA
- > 1893 SafetyApplianceAct\USDC
- ENHANCEMENTS:
- > TripleValve\DistributorValve
- > GladHand
- > DualReservoir DualReservoir
- > ElectroPneumatic\ElectroControlPneumatic\TrainLine
- > TwinPipe
- > BrakeBlending BrakeBlending
- > EOTDevice
- STANDARDS:
- > America\AAR Standardized AIRx Brakes 1893, Banned VACx Brakes 1900
- > Britain\BR Began Using AIRx Brakes 1962, Standardized 1978, Some VACx Brakes Remain As Of 2017
- > China\CRC Standardized AIRx Brakes 19??
- > Euro\UIC Standardized AIRx Brakes 19??
- > Indi.RDS Began Converting VACx To AIRx Brakes In 1980, Some VACx Brakes Remain As Of 2017
- > Japan\JR Standardized AIRx Brakes 1925, Banned VACx Brakes 19??
- > Russia\GOSt Standardized AIRx Brakes 19??
- > Australia\ROA Began Converting VACx To AIRx Brakes In 19??, Some VACx Brakes Remain As Of 2017
- > SouthAfrica\SAR Began Converting VACx To AIRx Brakes In 19??, Some VACx Brakes Remain As Of 2017
- MANUFACTURERS:
- > Bozic
- > DaKo
- > Gessman
- > IndiaRailAirBrake\IRAB
- > Knorr\NewYorkAirBrake\NYAB
- > Mitsubishi
- > Oerlikon
- > Schaltbau
- > Secheron
- > WestinghouseAirBrake\WABCo
- > Xian\ChinaLoco
- SUBTYPES:
- > AIRA=AirAutomatic Brakes Are Used On All Stock: DMUs+EMUs+Locs+Tenders+Wags...
- AIRA Brakes Evolved From The 1872 WABCo "FailSafe AutoAir" Brake & BrakePipe
- AIRA Brakes Of Today Function Much The Same Though Much Improved
- > AIRI=AirIndependent\Strait Brakes Are Used On DMUs+EMUs+Locs+Tenders Only
- AIRI Brakes Evolved From The 1868 WABCo "NonFailSafe StraitAir" Loco+Tender Brake
- AIRI Brakes Of Today Function Much The Same Though Much Improved
- > AIRE=AirElectric\EP\ECP Brakes Are Used On DMUs+EMUs+UnitFrht Trains
- AIRE Brakes Evolved From The 1904 WABCo.AMUE "ElecPneumatic" Brake & 7WireLine
- AIRE Brakes Of Today Control Both Brakes+Power In A Train Via Multiplexed 3WireLine
- InfoLink InfoLink InfoLink
- APPLICATIONS:
- > 1872~1905 Steam Locs With WABCo.A\B\C\D\F\G\H\K
- > 1904~1947 ElectricMotorUnits\EMUs With WABCo.AMUE
- > 1906+Later Steam Locs With WABCo.6ET
- > 1925~1944 Diesel+Electric Locs With WABCo.6SL\7EL\8EL\14EL
- > 1945~1956 Diesel+Electric Locs With WABCo.24RL
- > 1948+Later ElectricMotorUnits\EMUs With WABCo.SMEE
- > 1957~1992 Diesel+Electric Locs With Knorr\WABCo.26L
- > 1993+Later Diesel+Electric Locs With Knorr.CCB\EBV Or WABCo.EPIC
EMFx Brakes
- ALSO KNOWN AS:
- > ElectroMotiveForce Brakes
- > Dynamic Brakes
- > Hybrid Brakes
- > Regen Brakes
- > Rheostat Brakes
- > Resistive Brakes
- OPERATION:
- > If EMFx Brakes Fail, AIRx Brakes Are Used
- > Back EMF Generated By Coasting TracMotors Is Switched To Resistors\Batteries\3RLE\OHLE
- > Back EMF Fades As Speed Drops To 0, So EMFx Brakes Alone Can NOT Fully Stop A Train
- > Modern Controls Blend EMFx & AIRx Brakes To Reduce Wear & Improve Handling
- ENHANCEMENTS:
- > BrakeBlending
- > BrakeBlending
- MANUFACTURERS:
- > ABB\Euro
- > Daulat\Indi
- > DaytonPhoenix\USOH
- > Mosebach\USPA
- > NRE\USIL
- SUBTYPES:
- > EMFD=Dynamic Brakes Connect To Resistors+Blowers & Disipate Power As Heat
- EMFD Brakes On Diesel+ElectricLocs Improve Braking + Handling\Safety
- > EMFH=Hybrid Brakes Connect To Batteries & Typically Power OnBoard Auxiliary Equipment
- EMFH Brakes On DMUs+EMUs Typically Power Passenger Lights+Convenience+Service Equipment
- > EMFR=Regen Brakes Connect To Shoes\Pantographs & Regenerate 3RLE\OHLE Power
- EMFR Brakes On EMUs+ElectricLocs Improve Braking + Handling + TracMotor Efficiency
- APPLICATIONS:
- > 1939 First Used On Diesel+Electric Locs
- > Used WorldWide On DMUs+EMUs+Locs