If you were near the rear of the train on the D&S the straight air braking probably caused the slack action of the train running in and out when they were braking.
With straight air one of the problems was that the brakes came on at the front of the train before the rest of the train. This caused slack action and damages. Automatic brakes have a more even response; especially after the quick action and then the imporved quick action and the type K triple valves came into existance about 100 years ago. Automatic air brakes have a very quick response but it still is a front to back action.