brakeman atop a train that has paused at Cajon,
California, to cool its brakes after descending
Cajon Pass in March 1943.]]
A
brakeman is a trainboard
rail transport worker in the
United States. The function also existed on
German trains in the past, but was abolished in the 1920s with the introduction of
air brakes, which could be controlled by the engine
driver.
Historical employment
In the US, the brakeman was a member of a railroad train's crew responsible for assisting with braking a train when the
conductor wanted the train to slow down. A brakeman's duties also included ensuring that the
couplings between cars were properly set, lining
switches, and signaling to the train operators while performing switching operations. The brakemen rode in the
caboose, the last car in the train, which was built specially to allow a crew member to apply the brakes of the caboose quickly and easily, which would help to slow the train. In rare cases, such as descending a long, steep grade, brakemen might be assigned to several cars, and be required to operate the brakes while the train was moving from atop the train. Brakemen were also required to watch the train when it was underway to look for signs of
hot box, (a dangerous overheating of axles,) as well as for people trying to ride the train for free, and cargo shifting or falling off.
In Germany, the brakemen occupied brakeman's cabins on several or even all wagons in a train and would operate the wagon brakes when signaled by the engine driver. It was a dangerous and uncomfortable role, especially in winter when it was not uncommon for brakemen to freeze to death in the unheated cabins.
As rail transport technology has improved, a brakeman's duties have been reduced and altered to match the updated technology, and the brakeman's job has become much safer than it was in the early days of railroading. Individually operated car brakes were replaced with automatic air brakes, eliminating the need for the brakeman to walk atop a moving train to set the brakes. Link and pin couplings were replaced with automatic couplings, and hand signals are now supplemented by two-way radio communication.
Duties today
Freight and yard crews consisting of conductor, engineer, and brakeman usually employ the brakeman in throwing hand operated track switches to line up for switching moves and assisting in cuts and hitches as cars are dropped off and picked up.
In passenger service, the brakeman (called trainman or assistant conductor) collects revenue, may operate door "through switches" for specific platforming needs, makes announcements, and operates trainline door open and close controls when required to assist the conductor. A passenger service trainman is often required to qualify as a conductor after 1 to 2 years experience. The rear end trainman signals to the conductor when all the train's doors are safely closed, then boards and closes his/her door.
Scenic Railways
Scenic Railways particularly in the form of
side friction roller coasters require a brakeman to ride with the train around the track to slow it down at certain points on the layout, particularly bends; as the trains are not mechanically held onto the track. The brakeman is responsible for slowing the train down when necessary and stopping it in the station at the end of the ride. There are only a few examples of such rides now left in existence; the Scenic Railway at
Luna Park, Melbourne Australia and the
Roller Coaster at
Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach,
UK are two of the largest examples.
See also
Brakeman's cabin
Jimmie Rodgers, "the Singing Brakeman"
Passenger guard – UK equivalent for passenger operations
References
Category:Rail transport operations
Category:Transport occupations
