THIS PAPER reviews previous locomotive braking experiments and
presents results from recent locomotive braking experiments with a focus
on quantifying the variability of braking performance. Experiments were
conducted in Mackay and Bundaberg in 2004 to measure the braking
performance of a large number of locomotives at various locations.
Further experiments conducted in Mackay examined the effect of
skidding on braking performance. Experiments conducted in Giru and
Proserpine in 2007 and 2008 examined the effect of an anti-lock braking
system on braking performance. From the analysis of previously
presented data, brake van braking, either with locomotive braking or by
itself, has been found to provide more consistent train braking
performance than locomotive braking alone. Skidding has been shown to
introduce considerable variability into braking performance, adversely
affecting deceleration by a factor of two. Some measure of control over
skidding can be obtained through the fitting of an anti-lock braking
system to locomotives. Results comparing anti-lock braking to manual
braking by experienced drivers were mixed although it is expected, but
not tested, that an anti-lock braking system will improve the performance
of an inexperienced driver.