THE WESTING HOUSE BRAKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13744, 8 May 1908, Page 7

THE WESTING HOUSE BRAKES.

'• TESTS IN NEW ZEALAND. "In his report on the recent Braybrook railway disaster, near Melbourne, the fireman of the first engine attributed the accident to defective brakes, while the reports of the driver and fireman of the second engine would tend to support that allegation. In order to ascertain some information rei gar-ding the possibility of a similar occur-, rence on the New Zealand railways, a. Herald representative yesterday made a number of inquiries amongst local railway men. :■'•'" It's the old, old story," said one official in referring to the accident, "for whenever such a ■collision occurs the men .always blame the brakes. But when it comes to tlie subsequent test the brake wiiis 99 times 'out of 100. In the absence of official re'ports, however, I consider that it would be unsafe to hazard an opinion as to the cause of the accident."

f! When askeft what provision was made locally for the examination of the Westinghouse brake, which is in use on all the large sections in the Dominion, this official replied that at each of the big stations special men were set apart to attend'-to that business, Avhile at the other stopping places the, brakes were, examined by trie driver and guard. In a, sense, an inefficient Westinghouse brake is an efficient brake. If the air 'escapes' suddenly the train is quickly brought to a, standstill, while the brake will slowly "creep" on if there is only a. small leak. If the brakes should get "out of order the driver would immediately notice it. There are : pressure gauges at each end of, the train, and by watching them those in charge may obtain a. full knowledge of. the condition of the brakes. If there is no air the driver will notice the hand of the gauge is pointing to zero, and he will immediately set the pump to work. The .testing of the brakes is carried out in a- most thorough manner. Everything depends, oh the man in charge of them. On the smaller sections the hand brake, is still in -use, but the Westinghouse is attached to some of the engines. These brakes also, our representative was informed, come in for frequent and regular attention.