Westinghouse brake

English

Noun

Westinghouse brake (plural Westinghouse brakes)

1. (rail transport) A proprietary air brake designed for railway use by George Westinghouse.
   • 1946 March and April, “Railways of the Isle of Wight”, in Railway Magazine, page 67:

     Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the Westinghouse brake has been retained as standard for all passenger trains, and that certain services still afford regular work for some of the survivors of the once-numerous Stroudley "Terrier" tank engines.

   • 1954 August, J. B. Snell, “The New Zealand Government Railways—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 562:

     All goods vehicles are fitted with the Westinghouse brake, with the exception of those on the isolated railway serving Nelson. However, as some compensation for this deficiency, the four 2-6-4 tanks on this section are fitted with steam smokebox-ash blowers, which are unique, useful, and awe-inspiring pieces of apparatus.

   • 1961 March, 'Balmore', “Driving and firing French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 146:

     The Westinghouse brake operation is interesting, but unusual if one happens to be used to Westinghouse working in this country. [...] The essence of the use of the Westinghouse brake is confidence and - for want of a better word - dash; the sooner the feeling stage is over the better for all concerned.

References

• “Westinghouse brake”, in Collins English Dictionary.