I used to be a car repairman for GE, but been out of that type of work for 4 years now. Boy do I miss it. Anyway shortly before I left I heard about a brake system could be going electric somtime in the future. This well be replacing the slower air system thus making the train able to stop faster. the system applies brakes to the cars all at once instead if the slow chain reaction that happens in a air system. This also takes out the slack action that occurs in hard braking. Have you head anything new on this. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Sounds like a very good idea - wonder if it will work in day to day practice. The electrical connections between cars would need to be reliable. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
"Sounds like a very good idea - wonder if it will work in day to day practice. The electrical connections between cars would need to be reliable." At present it is being used in limited applications (unit ore and coal trains) where the consists remain coupled trip after trip. While the system has shown some great advantages in comparison to the air system the likelihood of it becoming common isn't likely since it would be too costly to retrofit all the freight cars in America, Canada and Mexico. Likely what will happen is that it will spread into larger groups of cars, so at least some switching would be possible but I suspect that there won't be a significant application of this system within the next twenty years to where they could be used in "day to day" operations. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Qstation has a listing of equipment outfitted with EABS (Electronic AirBrake System) equipment - http://www.qstation.org/bnsf/eabslist.html Also, IIRC, Trains magazine ran an article a few years back on electronic braking, even riding along with a BNSF stack train outfitted with the equipment. Crews seem to love it, but like its been said, the high cost of installing the equipment on the entire domestic railcar and locomotive fleet will probably keep it from spreading anytime soon. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
I have read an artical on this in Trains some time ago. I have never been on any equipment that uses this as it is still in limited service. As air brakes are set up now, every application and release uses air in the cars individual air tanks. Several applications and releases can cause the tanks to become soft while they recharge with air. The electrical system alllows the tanks to remain charged by electrically activating the pistons. The air in the system would keep the brakes released, while the electrical would activate them. With a full charge in the tanks, when the electrical activation was shut off, release would be instantanious. Thats how I remember reading about it anyway. If anyone has used this in regular service, jump on in here! Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Hey, In passenger serv.,we have a electro-phnenatic brk.There's an extra notch on our brk valve.When brk handle is put in"EP",the air system recharges, while brk cyl pressure remains.At this point,we can release brk cyl pressure to smooth out the stop.This type of system has been around for a very long time. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Hey, That's a little before my time .Although,our #1 who retired 2 yrs. ago,at age 78,did start his 55 yrs of service on steam.He was the last DL&W survivor. [ 11. October 2004, 21:54: Message edited by: SecretWeapon ] Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Lots of MU designs over here have EP brakes, most of the Southern region electric fleet built from 1951 onwards had them. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
