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AIR EQUIPMENT
BRAKE HANDLE POSITIONS :
RELEASE POSITION - This position charges the equipment and releases the locomotive and train brakes after an automatic application. Cam action of the drum switch opens all contacts to electrical circuits, thus providing instantaneous brake release on all cars. The RELEASE position is at the extreme left of the quadrant and is the normal position when the automatic brake is not in use.
ELECTRIC HOLDING POSITION - This position holds the applied brake as in LAP position and also allows charging the system while the brakes are being held when the electric brake is used. This feature is especially useful when numerous and frequent stops are made which would normally bleed down the charge on the system. In freight service, this is the same as RELEASE position. This position is located to the right of RELEASE position.
CAUTION : IF THE HANDLE IS IN HOLDING POSITION AND THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILS, THEN THE BRAKES WILL RELEASE THROUGHOUT THE TRAIN.
LAP POSITION (Handle Off) - This position, located to the right of ELECTRIC HOLDING, stops the service brake pipe reduction occuring on the locomotive and the train. The brake valve handle is removable in this position.
SERVICE POSITION - This position, located to the right of LAP, provides a service brake application by causing a brake pipe pressure reduction at a service rate.
EMERGENCY POSITION - This position is located at the extreme right of the brake valve quadrant. Movement of the brake valve handle in the first portion of this section provides electrical emergency braking throughout the train. Movement of the brake valve handle to the extreme right of the emergency section provides electro-pneumatic braking. This results in a conventional pneumatic emergency brake application back-up in case of an electric circuit failure.
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