Independent Brake

Most locomotives and railcars feature independent brakes. Similarly to train brakes, independent ones are controlled by air pressure. However, they only serve a particular vehicle and not the entire train. Since their working volume is smaller than that of a train brake, pressure equalization is faster, so they’re practical to use when the vehicle is running solo.

Unlike train brakes, independent brakes bypass the brake pipe and work with pressure in the opposite manner. They receive pressurized air from the main reservoir directly when applied and dump pressure into the atmosphere when released. Both train and independent brakes use the same brake cylinder, so the dominant one is the type that is applied more.

Motorized vehicles connected in a multiple-unit will all apply their independent brakes, if any one of them does.