I have recently acquired a Westinghouse Air Brake Instruction Pamphlet for the air brakes on the Pioneer Zephyr (as built). Does anyone know what air brake equipment is currently on the train?

Since the original equipment is/was fairly unique, I am wondering if it lasted until her retirement, or had the CB&Q upgraded it at some point.

Pictures of the cab and underbody valves or locations of any pictures on line would also be helpful.

I realize that this is an esoteric question, so any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Bob

The Mark Twain Zephyr currently resides at

Gateway Rail Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 9
Madison, Illinois 62060-0009
Telephone: (618) 451-0100
Fax: (618) 451-8934
Email: info@gatewayrailservices.com
http://www.gatewayrailservices.com/

You can probably get the information/pictures you want there.

Isn't the Pioneer Zephyr in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago?

Yes, the Pioneer Zephyr remains firmly entombed in the basement of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

I'm not sure whether this is helpful or not, but here's what the motorman's brake stand on the Zephyr looks like these days:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=151366

I believe this was originally a Wabco SME-3 system that operated with straight air with a separate charging line but also had an automatic brake mode for compatibility with other equipment in case the train needed to be towed. My recollection is that the power truck has 36 inch wheels and everything else is 30 inch, and that the weights on all four trucks differ widely from about 98,000 at the power truck to only 30,000 at the rear truck. The braking effort was individually proportioned for the truck weight loadings by using different cylinder sizes and leverage. It seems unlikely that anyone would have wanted to invest the time and effort to re-engineer such an unusual system.

PC

An article from "Traffic World" April 14, 1934 (reproduced in Burlington Bulletin #43 November 2004) describes an electropneumatic system.

In that time period the HSC (High Speed Consist) electric supplement was beginning to be used for fast passenger trains. That would add several magnet valves distributed through the system to speed up brake application.

PC