Why Teach the 26L Locomotive Air Brake System?

It is the dominant air brake system in North America. When you understand the 26L brake system,

you understand a great deal about today’s software driven electronic brake systems.


Your Three-Day Experience

If you have always wanted to be more effective at troubleshooting locomotive brake systems or you

just want to understand how the system works, this is the training for you. No hours of tracing

diagrams with colored pencils. Join your instructors for three 8-hour days of fast-paced learning as

we cover the four primary values and how they interact. Day one we explain the 26C automatic brake

valves and the signals it sends to other valves and participants learn a thorough locomotive brake

test. On the second day, we introduce the A-1 Charging Cut Off Pilot Valve found on many

locomotives and introduce troubleshooting equalizing reservoir leaks. That afternoon we present the

P-2A application valve and how it supports the use the dead man pedal, alertness devices, cab

signals and even PTC. On Wednesday we discuss the remedy to 10 common airbrake problems.

On day three we cover variations on the 26L system that participants may see on units from Class I

RRs, the compressed air system and more troubleshooting on a GP38-2 locomotive.


Your Instructors

Don and Allen worked at two different Class I “Granger Railroads” before meeting at Norfolk &

Western. Over the years they worked in as supervisors locomotive shops at Silvis, Decatur, and

Chicago, Illinois and managed larger shop teams at Roanoke, Va and Chattanooga, TN. Allen retired

as Manager of Locomotive Engineering and Don as Vice President Mechanical from Norfolk

Southern. Both have been involved in air brake modifications, test procedures, waiver applications,

specifications and troubleshooting since the ‘80s and have degrees in mechanical engineering.


The cost is $1000 per participant with a class size of 10 students. Payments are required in advance

by credit card to the Railroaders Memorial Museum. Payments can be made at this link:

https://www.railroadcity.org/trainings Participants should provide their address for informational

emails and pre-read materials.

Direct questions to Don Graab at ddgraab@gmail.com