Brake van facts for kids
A brake van is a special railway vehicle used mostly in the UK and Australia. It has a hand brake that the train's guard can use to help slow down or stop the train. In North America, a similar vehicle is called a caboose. However, brake vans and cabooses look quite different. British brake vans usually have just four wheels, while cabooses often have larger bogies (sets of wheels).
Contents
What is a Brake Van?
A brake van is a type of railway vehicle that travels at the back of a freight train. Its main job is to provide extra braking power. The train's guard rides inside the brake van. From there, they can apply the hand brake when needed. This helps the train driver control the speed, especially on slopes or when stopping.
How Does a Brake Van Work?
The guard in the brake van has a direct control over a powerful hand brake. This brake works by pressing brake shoes against the wheels of the brake van itself. When the guard applies the brake, it creates friction. This friction helps to slow down the entire train. It's an important safety feature, especially for long or heavy freight trains.
Brake Vans Around the World
Brake vans were very common in the UK and Australia for many years. They were a vital part of freight train operations. In the UK, most brake vans had only four wheels. This gave them a simple, sturdy design.
In North America, the equivalent vehicle is called a caboose. Cabooses often look different from British brake vans. They usually have two bogies, which means they have eight wheels in total. This design can make them smoother to ride in. While their purpose is similar, their appearance and some features vary by region.
Images for kids
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British Railways "standard" brake van
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A "toad" brake van of the Great Western Railway
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Indian goods brake van with four wheels (BVZC)
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Indian goods brake van with eight wheels (BVZI)
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British Rail Mark 1 coach with passenger compartments (left) and brake / luggage area (right)
