Air Brakes and Train Handling Rules - Alaska Railroad

66 Locomotive Equipment and ComponentsA. Brake Valve FeaturesThe 26C automatic brake valve has these features:• Its maintaining feature maintains constant brake pipe pressureunless the cutout valve is in OUT.• The regulating valve controls the supply of air pressure to theequalizing reservoir, which regulates brake pipe pressure.B. Handle PositionsHandle positions include:RELEASE. Charges the brake pipe to the regulating valve settingand releases the locomotive and train brakes.MINIMUM REDUCTION. Reduces equalizing reservoir and brakepipe pressures 5 to 7 psi.SERVICE ZONE. Gradually reduces equalizing reservoir and brakepipe pressures in increasing amounts as the brake handle ismoved to the right.Moving the brake handle to the left with the brake valve cutoutvalve in PASS will increase equalizing reservoir and brake pipepressures.23 PSI REDUCTION (FULL SERVICE). Reduces equalizingreservoir and brake pipe pressures 23 psi.SUPPRESSION. Restores control of the locomotive after a safetycontrol (penalty) brake application. To recover control, leave thebrake handle in this position for 60 seconds.Moving the brake handle further to the right toward CONTINU-OUS SERVICE will progressively reduce brake pipe pressure ata service rate.CONTINUOUS SERVICE. Reduces equalizing reservoir and brakepipe pressures to zero at a service rate. Use this handle positionfor:• Trailing locomotives• Helper locomotives that do not control the air brake system• Locomotives hauled dead-in-train66-2 ARRC Air Brakes and Train Handling Manual June 1, 1996