(01-05-2018, 02:44 PM)chutten Wrote:(01-05-2018, 01:40 PM)Canard Wrote: Hopefully not the leaves issue, because our LRV’s are equipped with sanding systems, and electromagnetic track brakes, which act directly against the rails, independent of wheel-to-rail friction (or lack therof).
So... the EM track brakes are for stopping and the sanding is for accelerating?
The EM track brakes (I like that!) are for stopping, yes, but sanding can help for both accelerating and decelerating - since it increases the traction of the wheels to the rails, and the wheels are normally used for accelerating and braking.
The EM track brakes are only activated in emergencies - IIRC they are only energized when the operator pushes the E-Stop (big red button). They're not normally ever used - the deceleration is so abrupt it would throw standing passengers. In other words, you only ever use it to save a life outside the LRV, at the risk of causing a few bumps and bruises to passengers inside.
This Russian dude does a great job of explaining how they work:
And here's a couple of photos I took of them on 501, shot during offloading: