Under which circumstances must airbrakes be cut out on a car?

Under which circumstances must airbrakes be cut out on a car?

• A. If the brake does not release when it should.
• B. When the car must be moved with an overheated bearing.
• C. Both A and B.
• D. Neither A nor B.

Answer: (C)

When a car’s airbrake system cannot be relied on for safe movement, you must isolate it from the train’s braking system by cutting out the air brakes. This ensures the brake control on that car won’t interfere with moving the train or cause a dangerous situation. Two common circumstances call for this: first, if the brake on the car does not release when it should, the car would stay braked and resist movement or create a hazardous brake on a rolling train. Cutting out the air brakes frees the car so it can be moved under the locomotive’s control. Second, if the car must be moved with an overheated bearing, the braking system on that car could complicate or worsen the risk to the bearing and wheelset. Cutting out the air brakes removes that car from train braking, allowing safe movement while the issue is addressed. So, both situations call for cutting out the air brakes on the car. If you don’t cut out in these cases, you risk a stuck brake, possible derailment, or damage from trying to move a car with unsafe braking or a hot bearing.

When a car’s airbrake system cannot be relied on for safe movement, you must isolate it from the train’s braking system by cutting out the air brakes. This ensures the brake control on that car won’t interfere with moving the train or cause a dangerous situation.

Two common circumstances call for this: first, if the brake on the car does not release when it should, the car would stay braked and resist movement or create a hazardous brake on a rolling train. Cutting out the air brakes frees the car so it can be moved under the locomotive’s control. Second, if the car must be moved with an overheated bearing, the braking system on that car could complicate or worsen the risk to the bearing and wheelset. Cutting out the air brakes removes that car from train braking, allowing safe movement while the issue is addressed.

So, both situations call for cutting out the air brakes on the car. If you don’t cut out in these cases, you risk a stuck brake, possible derailment, or damage from trying to move a car with unsafe braking or a hot bearing.