Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Are the air brake systems of the UIC and AAR interchangeable?

Suppose I am running a Canadian/US/Mexican railway, and all my freight cars are the standard AAR with everything. Suppose I am short on locomotives, and I don't like North American locomotives so I want to rent from MRCE Dispolok ( http://dispolok.com/ ). Would I be able to connect the air brake systems, or would I have to change the locomotive's controls/valves/etc. If the systems in general are the same, work on the same basis, would it just connect, or would I just need to change the air couplings between the vehicles? Websites with pictures and explanations would be helpful.

P.S. I know about all the other incompatibility problems, do not lecture me about it. I only care about air brakes right now.

Update:

Isn't it with a triple valve thing that doesn't care what pressure it is?

3 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    No lecture here, mate. For that I'd have to charge ya ...

    Da air is da air ... Maybe I can help ya out there ...

    (What the hell is that 'three dot thing' anyway?)

    Westinghouse automatic air brakes are compatible in nearly all circumstance, and are the standard for much of the rail operations on the planet. Only the varying pressures involved dictate any action by the control valve (this is where there are differences) on the cars for charging, application, release and recharging.

    That having been said, there are pitfalls where the automatic air is concerned when there are varying types in a train (think of them as 'sub-species'). Technical stuff. No need to go there. So, as long as the locomotive meets standards, the air is the air. Here, Russia, UK. Doesn't matter. It's nearly all Westinghouse design if not of Westinghouse manufacture.

    In the Americas, standard locomotive automatic air brake control valve is the 26L, compatible with all accepted air brake control and practices within the purview of not only the AAR, but managed by the FRA, the government agency which themselves set the rules for all air brake protocol.

    More than adopting a standard gage, the need for standard air brake apparatus and operating practices between all North American (to Alaska, too, via Canadian railroads, also standardized) and southward through Mexico to Central American railroads fell right into line, because, the air is the air.

    If the locomotive meets all standards as set by the FRA and other agencies, you're good to go with the 26L air brake schedule.

    So, yours is only a choice of approved power since ... da air is da air ::: (Now... THAT right there is one of 'em double " ... "s. I mean, if three is good, isn't six better?).

    {(Thus demonstrating the need for new punctuation ... [Oops. I mean, ::: ] ). So, why DON"T we have double ' ,,, ' ?}. I mean, I support the comma. Don't you?

    Uuuumm :::

    What was the question?

  • 7 years ago

    i think they are not compatible.Reason I do not know.They have different charging rates

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    not sure srry

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.