If the engine is shut down during an unattended locomotive consist, what position should the automatic brake pipe handle be placed in?

If the engine is shut down during an unattended locomotive consist, what position should the automatic brake pipe handle be placed in?

• A. Full service
• B. Release
• C. Emergency
• D. Applied (not specified)

Answer: (A)

The automatic brake pipe handle should be set to Full Service. Why this is best: when the engine is shut down and the locomotive consist is unattended, you want the train to stay firmly in place. Moving the automatic brake pipe handle to Full Service applies the brakes to their full service level across the entire consist, holding the train by reducing the brake pipe pressure to the level used for a full service application. This provides a secure, controlled hold without the abruptness of an Emergency application. Releasing the brakes would allow movement, and Emergency would slam the brakes on quickly, which isn’t necessary for unattended security and can be harsher on the equipment. An “Applied (not specified)” setting is ambiguous and doesn’t guarantee a full secure hold.

The automatic brake pipe handle should be set to Full Service.

Why this is best: when the engine is shut down and the locomotive consist is unattended, you want the train to stay firmly in place. Moving the automatic brake pipe handle to Full Service applies the brakes to their full service level across the entire consist, holding the train by reducing the brake pipe pressure to the level used for a full service application. This provides a secure, controlled hold without the abruptness of an Emergency application.

Releasing the brakes would allow movement, and Emergency would slam the brakes on quickly, which isn’t necessary for unattended security and can be harsher on the equipment. An “Applied (not specified)” setting is ambiguous and doesn’t guarantee a full secure hold.