* Login   * Register * FAQ    * Search
It is currently Tue Jun 18, 2013 5:11 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
 [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: locomotives don't have air brakes?
PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2012 1:17 pm 
Offline
Conductor
User avatar

Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 3:54 pm
Posts: 287
Location: Long Island, NY
while i was on the steam train tour our guide told us that the locomotives don't have air brakes, they rely on the johnson bar to stop and the cars have brakes. how come? (i forgot to ask the guide why) if the locomotives don't have brakes, why do they have the air compressor?

_________________
"How can you move forward if you keep regretting the past?"- Edward Elric


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: locomotives don't have air brakes?
PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2012 1:46 pm 
Online
Conductor

Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:47 pm
Posts: 216
The air compressor on the locomotive supplies air pressure to operate the brakes on the cars in the train.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: locomotives don't have air brakes?
PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2012 10:15 pm 
Offline
Engineer
User avatar

Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:55 pm
Posts: 856
Location: San Jose, California
I'm not sure about Walt Disney World but at Disneyland, the engines have train brakes that apply to the entire train but they do not have engine brakes that apply to the locomotive itself only.

_________________
TFN5459


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: locomotives don't have air brakes?
PostPosted: Sun May 20, 2012 12:29 am 
Offline
Engineer
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 11:13 am
Posts: 892
Location: Georgia
According to the tour when I took it... They use the coaches to stop the train because of the experience for the passenger. If the engine "slammed on brakes", passengers would be thrown forward. With the coaches doing the breaking, passengers are pulled back against the bench during quick stops.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: locomotives don't have air brakes?
PostPosted: Sun May 20, 2012 7:56 am 
Offline
1000 post Engineer
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:36 pm
Posts: 1917
Location: Centerville Utah
Well not quite, you can't break the laws of physics at those speeds, conservation of momentum says you will always be thrown forward where ever the breaks are. The ride would be harsher in the rear cars because of couple slack, the first car would have little slack and would be pushing on the locomotive after a few inches of travel but 5 cars back you get over a foot of travel and it would be like hitting a wall at low speed.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: locomotives don't have air brakes?
PostPosted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:06 am 
Offline
Conductor
User avatar

Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 3:54 pm
Posts: 287
Location: Long Island, NY
Cannonball7 wrote:
According to the tour when I took it... They use the coaches to stop the train because of the experience for the passenger. If the engine "slammed on brakes", passengers would be thrown forward. With the coaches doing the breaking, passengers are pulled back against the bench during quick stops.

that makes sense, no wonder the cars screeched when the train was stopping

_________________
"How can you move forward if you keep regretting the past?"- Edward Elric


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: locomotives don't have air brakes?
PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:34 am 
Offline
6000 post engineer
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:06 pm
Posts: 7633
Location: Wake Forest, NC
I don't believe the WDW engines ever did have brakes--probably no need down in the Yucatan. This is the way locomotives were stopped back before the advent of air brakes--close the throttle, put the Johnson Bar in reverse, and crack open the throttle a little.

Yes, the Disneyland engines have brakes, and both engine and train brakes are controlled from one brake staand, unlike most other steam engines, were there is an independent brake (controls only the engine brake) and a train brake--which controls the brakes on the cars. The two brakes are used in conjunction with one another to keep the cars from slamming into the engine, and to keep the slack taught on the train.

_________________
Steve

My new book, From Plantation to Theme Park: The Story of Disneyland Railroad Locomotive No. 5, the Ward Kimball is now available! You can read more about the book and order a copy here: http://www.steampassages.com


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
 [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
© 2006-2011 Burnsland.com, Steve Burns. Check out the Information page. All Disney-owned type stuff is property of Disney. No ownership or rights of usage are implied. No endorsement by Disney is implied, either. Surf at your own risk. Look both ways before crossing the street. Live long and prosper.