UNION PACIFIC -- AIR BRAKES
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS(GRADED A+)
What government agency regulates the inspection and testing of brake equipment
on railroad locomotives and cars? - ANSWERFederal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Can cars placed in a train be moved prior to a safety inspection? - ANSWERNo
What rule details the safety inspection of freight cars? - ANSWERRule 1.33,
Inspection of Freight Cars
Who can perform inspections and brake tests? - ANSWERQualified Person,
Qualified Mechanical Inspector, or Qualified Maintenance Person as specified by
federal regulations.
After fundamental training on freight car inspections and air brake tests, would a
trainman be considered a "Qualified Person?" - ANSWERYes
During the safety inspection, is an inspection on both sides of the train required? -
ANSWERYes
Can inspections by "Qualified Mechanical Inspectors" extend the distance a train
may travel before additional inspections and tests are required? - ANSWERYes
(Extended Haul Train)
What must you do before coupling air hoses together? - ANSWERShake debris out
of hoses and blow all condensation from locomotive brake pipe or yard air line.
What should be done to prevent an air hose from dragging whenever the train is
moved? - ANSWERAir hoses inspected for condition, properly coupled, and all parts
of brake equipment secured.
Unless brakes fail en route, how many cars must have operative brakes? -
ANSWERAll cars : 100%
What percentage of operative brake equipment must trains have under all
circumstances? - ANSWERAt least 85%
Who must be notified when a car's brake equipment fails en route? - ANSWERLeave
information for relieving crew, and notify Dispatcher or Mechanical Help Desk.
What ITEM is referenced to determine the number of operative brakes in train? -
ANSWERSSI, Item 2-F, Maximum Speeds:
Tons Per Operative Brake (TPOB)
How must en route car brake failure be documented ? - ANSWERMust be tagged,
(*"Bad Order" tag*), on both sides of car and noted on train documentation.
, Who is in charge while the air brake test is being conducted? - ANSWEREmployee
performing the air brake test.
Before conducting the air brake test, what must the person performing the air brake
test ensure? - ANSWERAll employees are safely positioned before beginning test.
What is the air pressure regulating valve, also known as, the brake pipe pressure, for
yard and freight service set to? - ANSWER90 psi
What three methods are used to determine the air pressure at the rear of a train? -
ANSWERAccurate gauge, E.O.T. (End-of-Train), and a distributed power
locomotive.
When an air brake test requires an inspection to determine that the brakes apply and
release on the rear car of the train, what action(s) would fulfill this requirement? -
ANSWERWhen either an EOT or power consist attached to the rear of the train
indicates the following: A decrease in pressure of 5 PSI (Brakes Applied) and an
increase in pressure of 5 PSI (Brakes Released). **Application and Release Test**
What types of couplers do we use on the UPRR? - ANSWERHigh Strength, (*E*),
and
Standard type, (*F*)
Couplers.
What is the function of the retaining valve and where is it located? -
ANSWERControls the brake cylinder pressure exhaust; located at the "B" end of car
or at the side near the control valve.
What is the function of a Retaining Valve in the *DIRECT EXHAUST (EX)* position?
- ANSWERExhaust all brake cylinder pressure
What is the function of a Retaining Valve in the *HIGH PRESSURE, (HP)*, position?
- ANSWERExhausts brake cylinder pressure to
20 PSI
What is the initial, (preferred), method to test brake pipe leakage? - ANSWERAir
Flow Method, (AFM)
What equipment must the locomotive be equipped with, if using the Air Flow
Method? - ANSWERAFM Indicator with a direct reading of air flow in increments no
greater than 10 CFM, (Cubic Feet per Minute)
The brake system for freight trains must be charged to what minimum requirement at
the REAR before an air test can begin? - ANSWER75 PSI
Using the Air Flow Method, (AFM), how many CFM cannot be exceeded for test to
be complete? - ANSWER*60 CFM*, if air flow exceeds this measurement then the
train must be inspected for leakage.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS(GRADED A+)
What government agency regulates the inspection and testing of brake equipment
on railroad locomotives and cars? - ANSWERFederal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Can cars placed in a train be moved prior to a safety inspection? - ANSWERNo
What rule details the safety inspection of freight cars? - ANSWERRule 1.33,
Inspection of Freight Cars
Who can perform inspections and brake tests? - ANSWERQualified Person,
Qualified Mechanical Inspector, or Qualified Maintenance Person as specified by
federal regulations.
After fundamental training on freight car inspections and air brake tests, would a
trainman be considered a "Qualified Person?" - ANSWERYes
During the safety inspection, is an inspection on both sides of the train required? -
ANSWERYes
Can inspections by "Qualified Mechanical Inspectors" extend the distance a train
may travel before additional inspections and tests are required? - ANSWERYes
(Extended Haul Train)
What must you do before coupling air hoses together? - ANSWERShake debris out
of hoses and blow all condensation from locomotive brake pipe or yard air line.
What should be done to prevent an air hose from dragging whenever the train is
moved? - ANSWERAir hoses inspected for condition, properly coupled, and all parts
of brake equipment secured.
Unless brakes fail en route, how many cars must have operative brakes? -
ANSWERAll cars : 100%
What percentage of operative brake equipment must trains have under all
circumstances? - ANSWERAt least 85%
Who must be notified when a car's brake equipment fails en route? - ANSWERLeave
information for relieving crew, and notify Dispatcher or Mechanical Help Desk.
What ITEM is referenced to determine the number of operative brakes in train? -
ANSWERSSI, Item 2-F, Maximum Speeds:
Tons Per Operative Brake (TPOB)
How must en route car brake failure be documented ? - ANSWERMust be tagged,
(*"Bad Order" tag*), on both sides of car and noted on train documentation.
, Who is in charge while the air brake test is being conducted? - ANSWEREmployee
performing the air brake test.
Before conducting the air brake test, what must the person performing the air brake
test ensure? - ANSWERAll employees are safely positioned before beginning test.
What is the air pressure regulating valve, also known as, the brake pipe pressure, for
yard and freight service set to? - ANSWER90 psi
What three methods are used to determine the air pressure at the rear of a train? -
ANSWERAccurate gauge, E.O.T. (End-of-Train), and a distributed power
locomotive.
When an air brake test requires an inspection to determine that the brakes apply and
release on the rear car of the train, what action(s) would fulfill this requirement? -
ANSWERWhen either an EOT or power consist attached to the rear of the train
indicates the following: A decrease in pressure of 5 PSI (Brakes Applied) and an
increase in pressure of 5 PSI (Brakes Released). **Application and Release Test**
What types of couplers do we use on the UPRR? - ANSWERHigh Strength, (*E*),
and
Standard type, (*F*)
Couplers.
What is the function of the retaining valve and where is it located? -
ANSWERControls the brake cylinder pressure exhaust; located at the "B" end of car
or at the side near the control valve.
What is the function of a Retaining Valve in the *DIRECT EXHAUST (EX)* position?
- ANSWERExhaust all brake cylinder pressure
What is the function of a Retaining Valve in the *HIGH PRESSURE, (HP)*, position?
- ANSWERExhausts brake cylinder pressure to
20 PSI
What is the initial, (preferred), method to test brake pipe leakage? - ANSWERAir
Flow Method, (AFM)
What equipment must the locomotive be equipped with, if using the Air Flow
Method? - ANSWERAFM Indicator with a direct reading of air flow in increments no
greater than 10 CFM, (Cubic Feet per Minute)
The brake system for freight trains must be charged to what minimum requirement at
the REAR before an air test can begin? - ANSWER75 PSI
Using the Air Flow Method, (AFM), how many CFM cannot be exceeded for test to
be complete? - ANSWER*60 CFM*, if air flow exceeds this measurement then the
train must be inspected for leakage.
