Question about brakes?

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Hello everyone,

Yesterday, I was running a steam engine in Cab Mode (which I almost never do). When I came to stop the train I threw the brakes into emergency. I saw that there was one more notch which was handle off. Can someone please tell me what the difference is between the two? Also does the independent brake make any difference when coming to a stop?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Irving]

Brake off position

The brake handle off position is used in trailing engines in a multi-engine consist.
This allows the automatic brakes to be controlled from only the manned lead unit. (Ref. SD45 Operator's Manual, EMD, GM Corp 2d Ed. 1966).

I imagine that the independent brake would only be used when coupled to a string of cars, which have released brakes without the desire to re-pressurize the auto brakes on the cars. Maybe in a slow switching/sunting move? - I
On the SD45 and RailDriver Independent brake there is also a Release or Bail Off position which releases the automatic operation off the engine brakes, with out releasing the rest off the train air brakes, Maybe used when decoupling from a parked train?

Note: I am not a trained nor experianced driver . Lets hear from a professional driver!

 

[cascaderailroad]

The independant brake controls only the lead locomotive...but the train brake controls the entire train consist, by reducing the train line air pressure, or dumping the air pressure which puts a train into emergency. The latter, if it happens, can take @ 5 min or much longer to re-pump up all the train cars air resivours. Engineers try not to put a train into emergency, as it can cause derailments, and causes a lenthly time to recharge the train, and usually requires a official report to be filed with the RR company headquarters, or even the FRA. However if the engineer applies only the independant brake, all the train cars behind the locomotive can come crashing into the locomotive sometimes causing bucking and jack knifes when the slack action moves in too quickly. Most long trains have many, many feet of slack action, as usually 3-6", or much much more per car. In Trainz it seems to make a minimal difference...unless you enable realistic derailment.

 

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Thank you both for your answers. This will help alot. I'm am starting to use Cab mode alot more then I used to.

Matt

 

[TrainMan12]

I hate to dig up an old post but I can provide you with a lot of information concering real-world operations. Depending on the type of train you have, you've got a few options to stop it. Most engineers I've ridden with will use the "stretch braking" method. This is when you use the automatic and throttle to stop the train. Typically, when you need to start braking, you'll make a minimum reduction followed by bailing off your independant (releasing the brakes on the locomotive consist only). After the minimum set is finished exhausting, you make another reduction, this time a 10 pound set, and bail off again. (Usually set at least 10 pounds on the automatic before releasing to avoid sticking brakes)
By this time, the brakes should be setting up and you should be slowing down. When you make the first reduction, it's a good idea to be in throttle power as this will keep the train stretched out and prevent the slack from running in when the brakes set up. You can use variations of this method depending on your train. A good trick that works for slowing short trains (only short trains) is to go straight to a Full Service, wait until the brakes start applying, and then kick it off. This will slow you down, and because the train is short, the brakes will release before long. Just remember that the brakes take time to set up, and Trainz does an excellent job of modeling air brake physics. Much more so than MSTS, and I use both sims.

The automatic brake typically has six positions besides the release position: 'Minimum', '10 Pound', 'Full Service', 'Supression', 'Handle Off', and 'Emergency'.

Also, the independant brake is very useful for stopping a train. Just remember to make slight applications to allow for slack adjustments and to avoid skating.