A gas actuated retarder system to resist movement of a railway car moving on wheels along a track section having a first and second running rail, the gas actuated retarder system comprising: a plurality of steel ties positioned substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second running rails of the track section; a plurality of gas bladder actuators disposed between the running rails, with each gas bladder actuator comprising; a gas bladder mount; a first gas bladder and a second gas bladder, each coupled to the gas bladder mount with one gas bladder on each side of the bladder mount; a pair of lever arms with each lever arm having a first end and a second end, with the first end of each lever arm coupled to one of the gas bladders and the second end of each lever pivotally coupled to a pivot pin secured to one of the steel ties; a brake clevis including a link arm coupled between the first and second ends of each lever arm proximate the pivot pin, with the clevis extending toward the running rail on each side of the track section; a gas supply line coupled to each of the gas bladder of each of the gas bladder actuators configured to expand each gas bladder; a pair of brake beams with one beam coupled to each clevis on one side of each of the plurality of gas bladder actuators with each brake beam parallel to one of the running rails; a brake shoe coupled to each brake beam and configured to engage the wheels of the railway car when the gas bladder actuators are inflated and disengage the wheels when the gas bladders are deflated; and characterised in that the gas actuated retarder system further comprises a fulcrum bar with one end coupled to each of the second ends of two levers and to each pivot pin. a plurality of steel ties positioned substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second running rails of the track section; a plurality of gas bladder actuators disposed between the running rails, with each gas bladder actuator comprising; a gas bladder mount; a first gas bladder and a second gas bladder, each coupled to the gas bladder mount with one gas bladder on each side of the bladder mount; a pair of lever arms with each lever arm having a first end and a second end, with the first end of each lever arm coupled to one of the gas bladders and the second end of each lever pivotally coupled to a pivot pin secured to one of the steel ties; a brake clevis including a link arm coupled between the first and second ends of each lever arm proximate the pivot pin, with the clevis extending toward the running rail on each side of the track section; a gas supply line coupled to each of the gas bladder of each of the gas bladder actuators configured to expand each gas bladder; a pair of brake beams with one beam coupled to each clevis on one side of each of the plurality of gas bladder actuators with each brake beam parallel to one of the running rails; a brake shoe coupled to each brake beam and configured to engage the wheels of the railway car when the gas bladder actuators are inflated and disengage the wheels when the gas bladders are deflated; and characterised in that the gas actuated retarder system further comprises a fulcrum bar with one end coupled to each of the second ends of two levers and to each pivot pin.