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24RL and 26L air brakes

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24RL and 26L air brakes
Posted by ungern on Saturday, August 23, 2003 11:12 PM
I was wondering if someone could explain the difference between the 24RL air brake system in use on the early diesels and the 26L in use today?

Phil
If mergers keep going won't there be only 2 railroads? The end of an era will be lots of boring paint jobs.
  • Member since
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24RL and 26L air brakes
Posted by ungern on Saturday, August 23, 2003 11:12 PM
I was wondering if someone could explain the difference between the 24RL air brake system in use on the early diesels and the 26L in use today?

Phil
If mergers keep going won't there be only 2 railroads? The end of an era will be lots of boring paint jobs.
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    April 2001
  • From: US
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Posted by wabash1 on Saturday, August 23, 2003 11:19 PM
I may be wrong but ill give it a try. I work with the 26l all the time. If i am not mistaken i believe that the 24was not a self lapping brake system. the 26l is totally self lapping. .
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Posted by wabash1 on Saturday, August 23, 2003 11:19 PM
I may be wrong but ill give it a try. I work with the 26l all the time. If i am not mistaken i believe that the 24was not a self lapping brake system. the 26l is totally self lapping. .
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 24, 2003 2:02 PM
Let me see if I can remember the positions. Far left was RELEASE; next RUN; then FIRST SERVICE; LAP; SERVICE, and lastly, EMERGENCY. You normally were in Run if the brakes were off. There was a cut-out **** if you didn't want to use First Service.[if cut in, place handle in First Service; when air stops blowing, place in Lap. It would be about 6/8psi reduction.] To make an application, you'd go from Run to service and measure out the reduction you wanted. Then put the handle in Lap. Some early brake stands had a cut-out **** for pressure maintaining, but if cut in, the reduction would stay as on 26L. To release, simply to back to Run. The 24RL had a selector **** for Run. In one spot, Run placed equalizing reservoir air in train line. [yeah, big whup!] But in the other position, Run placed MAIN RESERVOIR air in the train line. Back in the days of AB valves, you could get a quick, clean release with Run. That is, if the hoghead knew what he was doing; and the old heads who learned their trade on steam knew what they were doing! In unskilled hands, Run would overcharge the brakeline and tie up their railroad. On B&O, at least, that selector **** was blanked off in later years...Eq. Res. ONLY. Hope this is of some help, ungern.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 24, 2003 2:02 PM
Let me see if I can remember the positions. Far left was RELEASE; next RUN; then FIRST SERVICE; LAP; SERVICE, and lastly, EMERGENCY. You normally were in Run if the brakes were off. There was a cut-out **** if you didn't want to use First Service.[if cut in, place handle in First Service; when air stops blowing, place in Lap. It would be about 6/8psi reduction.] To make an application, you'd go from Run to service and measure out the reduction you wanted. Then put the handle in Lap. Some early brake stands had a cut-out **** for pressure maintaining, but if cut in, the reduction would stay as on 26L. To release, simply to back to Run. The 24RL had a selector **** for Run. In one spot, Run placed equalizing reservoir air in train line. [yeah, big whup!] But in the other position, Run placed MAIN RESERVOIR air in the train line. Back in the days of AB valves, you could get a quick, clean release with Run. That is, if the hoghead knew what he was doing; and the old heads who learned their trade on steam knew what they were doing! In unskilled hands, Run would overcharge the brakeline and tie up their railroad. On B&O, at least, that selector **** was blanked off in later years...Eq. Res. ONLY. Hope this is of some help, ungern.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 24, 2003 2:11 PM
Oh, I forgot...the 26L. Simple, really. Left to right: RELEASE; MINIMUM REDUCTION; SERVICE [OR APPLICATON ZONE]; FULL SERVICE; SUPPRESSION; HANDLE OFF; EMERGENCY. And as Wabash said, there is no lap position; place the handle where you want it, and when the blow stops, leave it there. [unless you wind up taking more] Then when you're done with it, back to Release. Unlike the 24RL above, this Release functions more like 24RL RUN.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 24, 2003 2:11 PM
Oh, I forgot...the 26L. Simple, really. Left to right: RELEASE; MINIMUM REDUCTION; SERVICE [OR APPLICATON ZONE]; FULL SERVICE; SUPPRESSION; HANDLE OFF; EMERGENCY. And as Wabash said, there is no lap position; place the handle where you want it, and when the blow stops, leave it there. [unless you wind up taking more] Then when you're done with it, back to Release. Unlike the 24RL above, this Release functions more like 24RL RUN.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 29, 2004 1:47 PM
I dug this out, as I didn't feel like explaining all of this again...
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 29, 2004 1:47 PM
I dug this out, as I didn't feel like explaining all of this again...
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Posted by Mookie on Monday, March 1, 2004 6:26 AM
Oh Skeets - I love it when you talk this way! I just wish I had an inkling as to what you just said! I am not even sure what the topic is! Think a nap is in order.

Mook

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, March 1, 2004 6:26 AM
Oh Skeets - I love it when you talk this way! I just wish I had an inkling as to what you just said! I am not even sure what the topic is! Think a nap is in order.

Mook

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 1, 2004 7:00 PM
It's big-time railroad talk, girlie...;0)
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 1, 2004 7:00 PM
It's big-time railroad talk, girlie...;0)

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