WestinghouseBrakes

TheProblem:Rapidlyandreliablystoppingtrains

Source:https://i.redd.it/g29ydt199mtx.jpg

Westinghouse’sfirstairbrake(1869)

Imperfections

• Slowtransferofairpressuretotherearwardcarsinlongtrainssubstantiallyincreasedthetimenecessarytostopthetrains• Abreakinthechainofcouplingsbetweenthecarswouldmakeitimpossibletosetthebrakesonanyofthecars

AuxiliaryreservoirSource:http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/technology/railroad/equipment/airbrake.htm

Source:http://railroad.net/articles/railfanning/airbrakes/Locomotive

Traincar

Source:http://railroad.net/articles/railfanning/airbrakes/

Source:http://railroad.net/articles/railfanning/airbrakes/

Source:http://railroad.net/articles/railfanning/airbrakes/

Source:http://railroad.net/articles/railfanning/airbrakes/

BothWestinghouseandBoydendevelopimprovementsdesignedtoredirectsomeoftheairfromthebrakepipetotheauxiliaryreservoirinanemergency

Source:“TrainAccidentArt,”https://fineartamerica.com/art/train+accident?page=2