Braking Overview

Brakes are devices found on rail vehicles serving to slow them down, bring them to a halt, or keep them stationary. There are several different types of brakes that are typically present on motorized and other rolling stock, with each being advantageous for a particular purpose. They are each operated by an individual control device, usually a lever or a crank that may be located inside the cab or on the vehicle’s exterior.

Application of brake control devices is almost always made to be oriented away from the driver. This is so that, in case of emergency, you can push all the levers forward as a safety measure, without needing to think of each control individually.

The types of brakes are:

• Train brake - Used to slow down or stop trains.

• Independent brake - Used to slow down or stop individual vehicles, such as locomotives.

• Dynamic brake - Used to aid train brakes in slowing down trains.

• Handbrake - Used to ensure that a train or individual vehicle remains stationary indefinitely.