104 CONTINUOUS KAIL WAY BRAKES. 



time, at that prossxiro. That this statement is misloading 

 and erroneous, the author has had opportunities of proving. 



Now, as to the merits of tlio " Westinghouso " brake. 



(tt) It is efficient in stopping trains, is absolutely reliable, 

 and easily applied by driver or guards. It is automatic in 

 its action. 



(6) Owing to the use of a largo reservoir cai-rying a con- 

 siderably higher pressure than the train-pipe, and by the use 

 oi' auxiliary reservoirs and, high pressure, the brakes can be 

 got " on " and " off'" faster than any other brake. 



The time taken to apply the " Westinghouse " brake is 

 about three seconds on a train 400 feet long; the time taken 

 to get the Automatic Vacuum brake on is about seven 

 seconds at the best. 



The " triple " valve has boon criticized in the past on 

 account of its complication. In spite of its so-called com- 

 plication, — which is not more than that of an ordinary piston 

 and steam cylinder, — it docs not fail as tho valves of the 

 vacuum brakes do, which are always causing delay. The 

 Board of Trade returns record few cases of a " triple " 

 valve failing to work, though there are a great number of 

 failures recorded against various typos of vacuum brakes. 



Tho " vacuum brakes " may show a few more miles run 

 for a "failnre" than tho "Westinghouse." The failures 

 of tho vacuum brakes are sucli as would, under certain 

 conditions, fail to prevent, and in some instances have 

 been productive of, accidents. 



The failures recorded against the " Westinghouso " are 

 in no instance dangerous failures. The worst they have 

 done, is to pull a train up by the accidental bursting of a 

 ho.^e coupling — a mishap that cannot result in a disaster 

 where the block-system, or other system of signalling trains, 

 is properly worked. 



