Re: #480 running in May 1969

Chris Walker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Much better, thank you! grinning smiley Can
> you tell us any more about the third rail braking
> system? JP
>
> There was one Mainline system, the Rimutaka
> Incline that used Fell tank locos and Brakevans
> for braking power on 1:15 gradients.
>
> [attachment 46287 RimutakaCentreRail.JPG]
>
> [attachment 46286 royal-train-ascending-1.jpg]
>
> There were the two South Island branches, Rewanui
> and the Blackball to Roa that had the centre rail
> for braking only with Brakevans.
> A Chris Bradley photo on Flickr
> [flic.kr]
> href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tutaenui/80492
> 22240/in/photolist-dghpVc-dfWWWY-dfWQAV-dghoE5-dfW
> RTk-dghpqW-dghm4A-dfWL7g-dfWWdo-dghrAv-dfWVuL-dfWM
> 2R-dfWNJv-dfWZyJ-dfWN4T-dfWYPd-dgho15-dghsso-dghoh
> p-dghuhU-dfWY8H-dghnkN-dghuNQ-G6vNyD-FPq1Hn-FbfuPB
> -GcrNtX-FZEkEH-Fb4L6S-Fbfw14-GihYkr/"
> title="R6"> src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/804922224
> 0_6b4398602d_b.jpg" width="680" height="1024"
> alt="R6">
>
> Out of Blackball.
> [attachment 46290 Roa_incline.JPG]
>
> Several bushtrams had the centre rail as well,
> most of those were "homemade" and had a wooden
> braking rail. Some were offset for the animal
> haulage.
> [attachment 46288 BushTramBrakingRail.JPG]

Wow. That is far more than what I expected. That is a pretty stout center rail to be used only for braking. Is what appears to be the caboose on the freight the "braking van"? Thanks for the photos. JP



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2018 05:40AM by jim pallow.