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 Post subject: Preserved Air Brake Instruction Cars
PostPosted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:51 pm 

Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 7:57 am
Posts: 2590
Location: Faulkland, Delaware
I know of the PRR car at the RR Museum of PA. Are any others preserved?

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Wilmington, DE

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 Post subject: Re: Preserved Air Brake Instruction Cars
PostPosted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:41 pm 

Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:25 pm
Posts: 509
Well, I do not know if it was preserved as an air brake instruction car. But, the NYCRR had one inside of a Budd built stainless steel coach (I presume it was a coach). There is a picture of it in the Morning Star "NYC Rolling Stock" book (the exact title escapes me at this moment).

I visited it with my Father (NYCRR Engineer, Steam and Passenger Qualified, Lines East) at Buffalo Central Terminal back in the 1970's (may have been just about the time of the formation of Conrail). It was very similar inside to the car preserved at the RR Museum of PA, except the NYC could afford to use a Stainless Steel car for that purpose. I believe the PRR could only afford an old smooth side RPO for their Air Brake Instruction Car. (PRR fans, don't flame me, I was raised in a NYCRR household so of course everything the NYCRR did was just a little bit better than the PRR, ha ha ha).

Very similar inside, lots of piping along one side to simulate a "real" length freight train, an assortment of different schedule brake valves and cylinders, and it all "worked", when you applied the brake valve the cylinders inside the car slammed wood blocks against a fixed frame so you could see exactly how long it took for the application to arrive at the simulated wheels.

Very cool experience, I remember my Dad making a special effort just so I could see the insides of that car. I wonder what ever happened to it ? Of course now they have computer simulators for that... My Dad got "yelled at" because the first time he used the "fancy" Conrail computer simulator he ended up running a "simulated train" around Horseshoe Curve in REVERSE...... The instructor had to point out that the telephones poles (in the simulator) where moving AWAY from the cab, ha ha ha. He finished with 49 years and no fatalities on the NYCRR/PC/Conrail (and Amtrak, before they hired their own crews) so maybe he knew just a little bit more than the computer ???

Cheers, Kevin


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 Post subject: Re: Preserved Air Brake Instruction Cars
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 4:46 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:06 am
Posts: 543
Location: NE PA
Reading Company T&HS has the LEMTU (Locomotive Engineer Mobile Training Unit) and it was operable, I believe it was last used by Amtrak in the 1970s. On the near left is an AB freight car setup, just pass that is a 26L with second generation control stand, middle back is a complete 24RL locomotive setup with a drum style controller, and on the far right side are the typical relays one would find in a first generation unit, these all operate in conjunction with the drum style controller and related switches. The row of lights above the relays indicate by name which relays are energized. It was a great educational tool, nothing like hands on learning.

Mike Tillger


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 Post subject: Re: Preserved Air Brake Instruction Cars
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 10:12 am 

Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:22 pm
Posts: 219
And on the street car front.
ex-PRT/PTC Nearside 6618, preserved at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, is an air brake instruction car.
I rode and operated it in 1953.


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 Post subject: Re: Preserved Air Brake Instruction Cars
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 1:34 pm 

Joined: Mon May 24, 2010 10:22 am
Posts: 548
Preserved only as photographs:

CBQ Instruction Car 31

http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/GeneHa ... T_0311.jpg

and

http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/GeneHa ... T_0313.jpg

I like the tracks in the floor so you can move the brake stand.

-Hudson


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 Post subject: Re: Preserved Air Brake Instruction Cars
PostPosted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:01 pm 

Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:17 pm
Posts: 13
Erie/El Air Brake Instruction car No. 10,has been parked in the Madison(New Jersey) Team Track on NJ Transit's Morristown Line for several years. This car reportedly was the prototype for the Erie Stillwell cars. I'm not certain of its ownership status at this time.

It was moved there along with Tri-State Railway Historical Society's preserved DL&W mail storage/baggage car and Morristown & Erie Ry's M-K rebuilt Geep for a display and remained along with the mail car afterward.

Al Holleuffer


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