Edit this page
(last edited July 19, 2005) Front Page | Recent Changes | Title Index | User Preferences | Random Page | Help* the air brake, which uses compressed air to apply the brakes on each vehicle and as the driver's train brake control medium.
* the vacuum brake, which uses the atmospheric pressure in opposition to a specially created vacuum both to control and actuate the brake.
* the dynamic brake, which uses the electric motors of the traction power system to generate current during braking which is absorbed into a resistor (rheostatic braking) or back into the railway power supply (regenerative braking).
* the parking brake, used to hold an unattended vehicle when the braking system is shut down. Often referred to as the 'handbrake' where it has to be manually applied on each vehicle as opposed to the automatic application provided on the most modern vehicles. Not all vehicles are equipped with parking brakes.
* the track brake, used on some light rail vehicles and trams where large magnets are hung under the vehicle over the rails and current is passed through them to induce a strong magnetic force. The attraction between the magnets and the rails causes the vehicle to stop. Mostly used for emergency braking.
