| Retarders can be operated using
springs, hydraulics, spring-hydraulics, electric screw jacks,
pneumatics, etc. The design shown here is a hydraulic retarder.
The hydraulic unit has many advantages in that the force exerted on
the railcars can be controlled precisely, the slowing speed can be
controlled more accurately, it works very well in very cold climates,
and it is easy to use multiple units in order to control long strings
of railcars. The retarder is in effect an external wheel brake
that can be used to control a railcar just like a handbrake would;
but, it does not require the operator to climb on an off of the
railcar to control the brakes. |
