Canadian Railroads > CP document discusses effect of severe cold on air brakes

CP document written for Winter 2018/2019 discusses the effects of severe cold on train air brakes.

CP White Paper: Railroading in the Canadian Winter

https://www.cpr.ca/en/about-cp-site/Documents/CP-2018-19-WhitePaper.pdf

Page 4:

"Cold weather increases air leakage in a train’s air brake system,
which results in varying air pressures between the head end and tail end of a train.
This is a major challenge. In order to release brakes, the train’s air brake system must maintain similar air pressure
throughout the entire length of the train."

"Distributed power accelerates the time required to pressurize the air brake system,
which takes longer in cold winter conditions."

"In extreme cold, it is essential to remove moisture from train air brake lines to prevent freezing.
Locomotives use air dryers to prevent moisture from entering air brake lines,
but these devices significantly reduce the locomotive’s capacity to pressurize the train’s air brake lines.
Therefore, more time is required to pressurize a train’s air brake system
and then conduct the required safety tests before the train can leave a terminal."

Marcus Wrote:


>
> CP White Paper: Railroading in the Canadian

>
> Page 4:
>
> "Cold weather increases air leakage in a train’s
> air brake system,
> which results in varying air pressures between the
> head end and tail end of a train.
> This is a major challenge. In order to release
> brakes, the train’s air brake system must
> maintain similar air pressure
> throughout the entire length of the train."
>
> "Distributed power accelerates the time required
> to pressurize the air brake system,
> which takes longer in cold winter conditions."
>
The CP didn't  proofread this part with understanding, as Distributed Power Decreases the amount of time necessary to pressurize the train, I don't think ACCELERATE means the same thing?
G

ExSPCondr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The CP didn't  proofread this part with
> understanding, as Distributed
> Power Decreases the amount of time necessary to
> pressurize the train, I don't think ACCELERATE
> means the same thing?

I thought it was awkward when I first read it too but it's technically correct. It means "speeds up the time", which is true. However, it should probably say, "Distributed power reduces the time required to pressurize the air brake system, which takes longer in cold winter conditions."