New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
FREIGHT TRAIN BRAKES.

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS FOR LIFE AND PROPERTY.
The paper upon Power Brakes for Freight
Trains" read before the American Society Of civil
Engineers by William p. shinn, esq, and just pub
lished in tho transactions OF that society,
has created great deal OF Interest
among railroad managers Mr. shinn's we'll
ability railway operator and scientific engi-
uecr the thorough Investigation which he gives to
any subject which engages his attention. make all DIS
papers worthy Of very careful CONSIDERATION his
paper embraces some seventy pages, aud Is replete
with carefully prepared schedules, diagrams and Illus
frntons embodying an ytca account Of series OF
exhaustive tcsts which Mr. shnn made with the brakes
Of the American Brake Company OF 81 LOUIS
and including reports ol Tets made with tho Nc7uhg-
house airlrake also II treats very ily OF the argey
increased aud weight 81 modern freight trains sho"
iur thnt their momentum il four five times greater
,l, mat euty years "a: while I'm but few instances
have railroads means Of controlling them nut
tho ordinary haud-hrdhe He shows cohclu-lNey hal'
with au automatic brake. freight trains can habtu"iy
Boo stopped az TIE Will OF the engineer 10 from one'hiIu
10 oncourth the time aud distance that Is no" required
by tho ordinary crew.
lie s,.ct, the Westinghouse and American brakes
because they are the only brakes which have yet been
utiu practical extent by r1o ny companies
ana I'd 50 of them. the Washington e. is tlr TIP
tts,uttuSr OF ihr class known as , -
ana ,Ac American ~ thc class known a. 'drttc"ed or
independent ur,Hr- tho former requiring h"'t,V on
uecton between cars 90 operate '"'h, anu t-9 80
lt lrg.r,udruf operator 10y tue
3D.
,ul cars u hr mt ltrstd through INC iidH "Iti
oit inpuuug the efficiency ~ ihp-r ih't are t4uPpi
lie -.roue.y ur-e- tAc gradual equipment OF d" tue
,un.- aud n the country "ltH power hI"A'7 AL"
concludes ~ follows
Inc reasons governing the shifting OF cars urr l'ca-
ti La M trains with reference % th'lr destination
Ie the idea that trans be made up with ref
ru, uHvlug the continuous brake into con
uruon with engine For these reasons the following
~ tueyed hy the writer TO be essential conditions "
he general adoption Of rcight-car brake;
1T Il must be- a detached brake , ,
aNt ID. ..f
Ter a. many coudiiiur- AS possible
gJ T. should require NO application or tho hand NJ
en-. car b., turning lever puug cord. TO set III IN
ACTION or release % ncr acton nor Wouli a hrhk"
I r-rrtur, that qulrc, reversing IN order TO IN Ike
lions. ,...,..
San Il mu-t oc prompt ln releasing "hch mo Tram
il II must not slide the wheels, Gittcncd wheels
arr a serious cause OF expense eel. .-., -. 81.
position In the train ~ the car or cars to when IS
IN f. should act when necessary without the voltlon
f r engineer when the cHf@ To men IL is Ap
ti,d are ou "a foreign road u Will DE applied 10y lh'
dunr, action the en- sIurc whether or not ne SHOWS
OF ltz presence 30 The tram. ,,-t.
ON IL sh ,ud simple iu construction reasohA"eIh
,,,-f nua economical no maintenance.
Tine American brake meets these CONDITIONS lht "''t
tnu htd reason believe prior To making inc tests OF
Vnirb This paper II report Before undertaking ln''
tr,..tpnfiGn 1 WIS not ttyoraby inclined 10 buurT
brake a. I did not think 10 would prove OF sulh'IchI
yIur I'm pracce to warrant s general adoption IAe7e
ie-- have that properly constructed ouuer
brake Is great addition 10 tAe iiclkut cqHPpo"N "
railroad.