Independent brake with multiple units

[EccentricCrank]

Does the independent brake operate on the other units also, or just the locomotive you are in? Curious, as just had my train drag me backwards down the hill - five in front, two in middle, and two on rear; 2.2% grade; stopped, waiting for signal.

 

[ptrainman]

The independent brake works on all units in the lashup that have the MU hoses hooked up. Not sure, but it should also work through the DPU software and apply them on the helppers too.


Paul

 

[gremlin1812]

G'day, correct me if I am wrong but the independent brake applies the brake on the loco you are operating and the train brake applies the brakes to the whole train. I would expect in your situation that if you have the brakes applied to only one loco what is occurring would most likely happen in real life as well.
Regards
Barrie

 

[UPRails834]

ptrainman is correct and yes the independent brakes apply on the DPU's also.

To the OP if you had 9 units on your train I would assume that the train was rather heavy and if you were stopped on a 2.2% grade the locomotive brakes alone would not be enough to hold the train. Real world you would need to apply the train brakes also to hold the train on a grade.

 

[jjanmarine3]

Does the independent brake operate on the other units also, or just the locomotive you are in? Curious, as just had my train drag me backwards down the hill - five in front, two in middle, and two on rear; 2.2% grade; stopped, waiting for signal.

Hi guys, I agree that the independant brake must apply brakes on all the locos in a consist . In reality the mu br cyl pipes relay the signal through to all the loco's . The br cyl pressure in an independant application is normally slightly lower 9 - say 5 PSI - than an automatic ( train ) brake application and possibly the independant brake might not hold on an steep incline , especially if applied when the locomotives are already moving. The independant brake application will not hold a whole train on an incline.

 

[ptrainman]

ptrainman is correct and yes the independent brakes apply on the DPU's also.

I thought so, but was not sure. DPUs are not as popular on Norfolk Southern as they are out West.

Paul