Locomotive braking systems

[Tulyar15]

Electric trains also have regenerative brakes, which use the electric motors as generators to put current back into the power supply. But these cannot stop a train, they are generally used to hold a train at a constant speed on a downhill gradient. The ideal situation would be a down hill training with regenerative braking generating some (but not all!) of the power to propel an uphill train.

[Randy Stahl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigJim

Have any of you tried to stop a moving locomotive with the hand brake? It'll never happen. And with todays wimpy brake shoes, I'd have to agree, I'll never trust a hand brake to hold a loco!

True- I had a bumpy ride into a turntable pit as a reward for my efforts in that direction.

[gfjwilmde]

Some of the previous posts are correct. Locomotives have many different ways of stopping. The procedures to their use of them is matter of that paticular railroad's operating procedures. Most railroads frown upon using the automatic air brakes as a primary braking method for a paticular train. Most operating manuals I've read say to slow your train down use the dynamic brakes(electrical braking) first then use the air brakes to stop your train. Some passenger locomotives have also a system called 'blended brakes'. Blended brakes is using the dynamic and air brakes in conjunction with one another. Instead of the air brakes completely releasing on the locomotive alone as with standard dynamic braking, blended braking bleeds off half of the full service brake appilication of the locomotive(s), thus you are using both instead of one or the other. Also understand, operating procedure(s) prohibit the use of the locomotive's independent air brakes to slow or stop your train as it would most likely cause the train to buckle and derail. If it's an emergency, then safety dictates what needs to be done in order to bring your train to a full stop with all possible speed. It's alot to soak in, but as one who had done many locomotive air brake terminal departure tests, it usually gets easy with time and practice.



GLENN
A R E A L RAILROADER!!!!!
A R E A L AMTRAKER!!!!!




don't forget!! if leaving a locomotive, locomotive consist, train with cars or draft of cars, always follow the operating(and safety) procedures that are applicable to your paticular railroad. use however many handbrakes that are allowable(sometimes more) and if there is a way to secure the wheels(chock, skate or chain), then do so. don't be a patsy for your's or someone elses negligence.

[WSOR 3801]

For securement we put handbrakes on the power, and maybe a few cars. Then release to independent. If it stays put, reapply the jammer and finish locking up.

We still kick cars in the yard with just engine brakes. Two GP38s work pretty good for this. One GP7 makes the night go a little longer. When they say "kick", just put it in run 8 and let it work until they say "that'll do". A pair of 38s you only need run 5 or 6. You stop when you stop. Sometimes they'll give me air on a few cars. That helps a lot when kicking with just the GP7.

[wabash1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigJim

Have any of you tried to stop a moving locomotive with the hand brake? It'll never happen. And with todays wimpy brake shoes, I'd have to agree, I'll never trust a hand brake to hold a loco!

yes i tried to stop a engine with hand brake and result yes it will stop a engine and yes they will hold a loco . todays whipy brake shoes get real man today like yester year they switch using no air and nothing more than engine brakes and just like back then some are better than others.

[dehusman]

Retainers keep a set amount of pressure in the cylinders, not the brake pipe.

Dave H.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigJim

Have any of you tried to stop a moving locomotive with the hand brake? It'll never happen. And with todays wimpy brake shoes, I'd have to agree, I'll never trust a hand brake to hold a loco!

its not so much an issue of holding it..once its stopped.. the handbrake can hold it....and i dont know about any of your railroad rules..but on csx..we are supost to test the handbrake on the engins after it is applied.... we releace all the air brakes... put her in gear...and give her some amps..and shut off...if the engin stops... within like 10 feet i think it is..its a good brake... then we applie the air brakes agin..and shut the engin down or at the very least set the cab up in the way perscribed by the rules for leaveing a locomotive unattended...while running...
csx engineer

[BigJim]

Have any of you tried to stop a moving locomotive with the hand brake? It'll never happen. And with todays wimpy brake shoes, I'd have to agree, I'll never trust a hand brake to hold a loco!

[csxengineer98]

well..i thank who ever pointed out my typo... i am full of them..lol.... also someone mentioned the hand brake..yes i forgot about that one..but normaly..one dosnt use them to stop or slow trains down anymore...atleast since the invention of the westinghouse air brake some 100 years ago....lol
csx engineer

[trainboyH16-44]

Also, the air brake system operates by the DROP in air pressure, so if you use up all the air, you're in trouble, even if your train breaks in two. That's what retainers are for. Retainers keep a set amount of air pressure in the pipe so it's harder to exhaust it.
Trainboy

[daveklepper]

Should point out that the automatic train brake actually lowers the pressure in the train's brake pipe, or for an emergency, reduces the pressure to just atmospheric pressure (dumps the air), and that valves under each car and locomotive sense this reduction in air pressure and route compressed air from the local brake airtank (which is charged from train brake pipe during times when the brakes are released, when there is maximum pressure, usually about 90 bl./sq.in.) to the brake cylinders, with the pressure to cylinders proportional to the reduction in pressure in the train brake pipe. This means that if there is a break-in-two, air rushes out of the train brake pipe, the pressure in that pipe is reduced, and the brakes are appied.

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Don't forget the good ol' hand brake--the only sure way to keep a dead locomotive where you want it!

Carl (maybe that's why my right arm is so sore!)

Don't trust the hand brake on a locomotive....chock it if you want it to remain in the same place.

[trainboyH16-44]

Dynamic brakes use the motors backwards, turning resistance into heat, whereas air brakes use shoes on the wheels. Dynamics can usually slow down as much weight as the engine can pull up the same grade, more or less.
Trainboy

[CShaveRR]

Don't forget the good ol' hand brake--the only sure way to keep a dead locomotive where you want it!

Carl (maybe that's why my right arm is so sore!)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jchnhtfd
[Knowing what the brakes are is one thing. Using them well to get smooth handling is quite another, and a fine art. The guys (and gals) who do it well are a joy to watch!

And cleaning up after the guys and gals that do NOT do it well is a lot of work!

[jchnhtfd]

I think CSX meant "can't stop a train by itself"... at that, he types as well as I do!

Knowing what the brakes are is one thing. Using them well to get smooth handling is quite another, and a fine art. The guys (and gals) who do it well are a joy to watch!

[csxengineer98]

their are only 3 systems.... 2 of which are standred...and 1 is an opption... the opptional one is the dynamic brake....the other 2 are air brakes...the first is the independant brake..or the engin brakes....and the other air brake is the automaitc brake or also know as the train brake.... the locomotive brakes do just that...stop the locomotives when thier isnt any cars attacthed..and the trian brake will put the brakes on everything... as far as dynamic..it will slow a train down..but can stop a train by itself...
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

I was wondering what the different types of braking systems are on locomitves and when each one would be used. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each.