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Cooee BW,
AH, star valves in air hoses.
I have no idea if we have anything like that here on the smog hollow squirts these days.
All of our BP and MR taps have a vent to exhaust air trapped in the hoses, when the taps are closed.
That to avoid a sudden rush of air when separating the hoses.
Pulling hoses apart when the locos are detached or the train shunted is verboten.
As damage can occur to the hose couplings, or actually pull the hose out of the tap.
Though, I still see / hear this happening.
And, now that I ponder about it, I think that the EEs in Van Diemens Land with Davies Metcalfe air brake had them.
I kinda recollect a sprung seal inside the MR hose heads.
BUT, as that is now 15 YEARS ago, I could be wrong, as me grey matter is now very grey.
The only individually coupled car sets still running around smog hollow are the C and K sets.
The rest are permanently coupled in four car blocks and use Scharfenberg couplers to amalgamate into 8 car sets.
I don't know if the permanently coupled cars have hoses with coupling heads or are simply solid hoses between the cars.
I have espied a four car interurban, which are still individual cars, broke in two when a coupler murray key broke.
As to burst air hoses, I don't think that occurred very often on the squirts or interurbans.
We copped it a number of times on freighters, until heavier quality air hoses were acquired.
Smog hollow squirts run with 425 kpa brake pipe, while freighters run at 500 kpa ( 70 psi) BP pressure.
Spring parkers, yep they are the go for keeping things stationary.
Though, I was amused when reading the prang report into the Ardglen banker loco run-away episode.
The spring parker on them GE things being el cheapo and only applying on two axles with single brake blocks.
Thereby NOT to be relied upon when on steep grades when the independent brake is released.
The combo of independent and spring parker capable of holding the loco stationary.
But, when changing ends and cutting out the brake valves, the driver accidentally released the independent.
GOOD BYE bank locos on the falling 1 in 40.
Yes, looking back was a facet of dinkum railrodding here, to check for sticking brakes etc.
But, not everyone bothered.
Our Tangarbage squirts in smog hollow were a worry in wet weather.
The wheel slide sensor knocking off the EP as well as the Westinghouse to prevent skidded wheels.
Numerous Tangarbage sets snotted things being unable to stop.
Hitting emergency was of no use what so ever.
BUT, you could stop them if hitting the spring parkers.
That wheel slide sensor did not prevent the spring parkers from applying.
But, the panicking squirt hogger had to remember this facet in time.
Computers, PHOOEY.
Give control of the train back to the driver.
OK, the occasional driver might stuff up, but the stinking computer ain't no save all solution.
Steve.
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