Conrail EABS Brake Test Train - 1

An SD40-2 helper pair led this unusual loaded coal train eastbound through The Curve on August 8, 1996. The single-note 'honker' horn was enough to get my attention, but then I saw the office car behind the 4th unit and really wondered what was up. The cars all had the typical CR livery, except for yellow paint on the lower corners. I later found out this signified this was a test trainset for the EABS electro-pneumatic brake system, where the brakes are applied simultaneously via electronic control rather than sequentially through the brake line pressure. Quite a nice catch if that is indeed what I saw.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Conrail
• freight
• train
• railroad
• coal
• test
• electronic
• air
• brake
• system
• EABS
• SD40-2
• helper
• pusher
• office
• car
• mountain
• Allegheny
• Horseshoe
• Curve
• Pennsylvania

[xxxDeath9572xxx]

Emergency

Air

Brake

System

Dang those Rs5T's are Sweet!!!

[FastFlyingVirginian]

Close...I think it was 'Electronic'. NS has several trainsets in coal service similarly equipped now.

[TheRailroadwolf]

was the EABS a viable brakeing system or was it dropped. I've nevver herd of it untill now, all the equipment I work with is powerd by standered typical train line brakes.

[FastFlyingVirginian]

Very viable, yes; the problem is in order for it to work every car in the train has to be equipped. I believe BNSF is beginning to equip its coal trains with a similar system.

[MilwaukeeSDman]

What was that huge BANG?

[andywhiteley1]

thats the longest train ive ever seen,

[vettebecker]

Love the heavyweight buisness car. Wish the heavyweights were still used today.

[xxxDeath9572xxx]

interesting and I could've sworn i had heard something about NS doing something similar

[Dutchdrummer99]

Is that a hole in the front of the 6th wagon with people moving in it?..lol

[1petealmquist1]

That leslie RS5T is nasty.