G'day BW,
Loco wise here in NSW, 1981 for the implementation of the spring parker.
EMU wise, 1979 (though I might be slightly wrong there, it may have been 1978).
Prior to that, either ratchet (HA don't tempt me) or wheel type crank chain link to a single or two wheels brake cylinders.
Our first loco spring parkers had individual bogie application handles or push buttons in the cab.
You had to go sprinting through to the other cab to apply the second bogie spring parker.
The 82 class things provided train lined spring parker application.
The C (chopper) set emu had manual handle application for each car, but the subsequent Tangarbage had train lined application.
The BHP Pilbara ore trains have ECP (electrically controlled pneumatic) type air brake in conjunction with standard Westinghouse.
ECP won't stop a train that breaks apart en route.
Hamersley Iron went to EPIC style electronic in the cab Westinghouse in the mid 1990s.
That caused some dramas initially with the software and caused numerous emergency applications.
We will just hafta wait and see what transpired with this recent run-away.
Oh, and Philip, I have uploaded a photo of Mount Newman Mining locos at Port Hedland taken in 1989 into the gallery.
https://www.railwayforum.net/gallery..._for_forum.jpg
Steve.