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This is a route-map template for a UK railway.
For information on use of this template, refer to Wikipedia:Route diagram template, for pictograms used see Wikipedia:Route diagram template/Catalog of pictograms.
Category:Templates for railway lines of the United Kingdom
Brake Continuity Wire
editThe Brake Continuity Wire is a an electrical cable which fulfils the requirement of Autobrake operation in modern trains which have electrically actuated brakes rather than the obsolescent air brake pipe system.
The old air brake pipe system was designed to be inherently safe - if a leak occurred in the brake pipe or the train divided (causing the brake pipe to spilt), this drop in pressure automatically caused the brakes to apply. When the advent of electrical train brake control systems such as the Westinghouse 3-step brake a new safety system had to be introduced.
The brake continuity wire starts at the "auxiliaries" (battery) of the train and runs in a circle through various governors and switches, finally arriving at the driving cab. This wire feeds control voltage to the drivers desk by means of the master switch. Should the brake continuity wire be interrupted by any switch opening, control voltage is taken away from the driver's controls thereby shutting off traction power and applying the emergency brake throughout the train.
Safety systems which may affect the Brake Continuity Wire may include;
- Traction Interlock switches (sensors on the external doors)
- Main Reservoir Pipe governors (pressure switch)
- Brake cylinder governors
- Speed Sense switch (opens if the train moves in 'Neutral")
- Drum Switch in "Coupled' position (mechanical switch which feeds signals to another train when coupled up)