What characterized railway braking before the successful air brake implementation?
Answer
It was slow, inconsistent, and required manual application on moving cars.
Prior to the integrated system, braking involved brakemen manually applying hand brakes while running along moving cars, which was slow and inconsistent.
Related Questions
Who is credited with inventing the integrated pneumatic solution for train stopping power?Approximately when did George Westinghouse invent the air brake?What characterized railway braking before the successful air brake implementation?What was the fundamental design feature that made the Westinghouse system a fail-safe mechanism?What scientific principle formed the basis of the new air brake approach?What significant economic benefit resulted from the improved stopping reliability of trains?Besides rail safety, what other critical area did Westinghouse influence, working alongside Nikola Tesla?What challenge did Westinghouse face after patenting his device regarding the rail network?What component represents a key refinement to the original air brake concept developed later?How did manual braking systems limit operational speed and frequency before the air brake?