The SafeSet™ Wheel Style Locomotive Parking Brake is an automatic, electric motor driven system which allows the operator to set the brake using "set" and "release" buttons located on a control panel adjacent to the brake. Built on the solid foundation established by the 393 Series of SafeSet™ Lever Style Locomotive Parking Brakes, the brake also incorporates industry standard mechanical controls for use when electric power is unavailable.

"The Wheel Style brake's ergonomic design allows an operator to apply 125 pounds of force with the push of a button," says David Pettengill, Product Manager. "The interface requires far less physical effort and increases the likelihood that the brake has been properly set, making it safer and easier to use."

He adds that the brake is especially popular for rail yard use, where operators must set and release the brakes 15-20 times each day. "The physical exertion required to manually set the conventional brake adds up over time," says Pettengill. "Improperly applied brakes can quickly become a safety issue."

Rail executives from Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD) and two Class I Railroads who witnessed the field tests were very impressed with both the reliability and ease of use of the new design, according to Lenny Wedge, manager of engineering. He adds that customers like the fact that there is no selector lever or switch that must be moved when changing the brake's operation from automatic to manual modes (or vice versa).

Stewart Bruce, VP Marketing adds, "our customers were most impressed with the ease of use and robustness of the design. They wait anxiously the release of the brake for OEM applications."

"We placed the brake on a new EMD SD70M-2 locomotive, and testing proved that the brake had more than adequate capacity to hold a three percent grade," says Wedge. The brake was later installed on two (2) EMD SD70 locomotives and a NS GE Dash 9 locomotive as well.

He adds that the Wheel Style brake has completed extensive environmental and life cycle testing in the lab prior to field testing, resulting in 35,000 applications without failure.

The Wheel Style parking brake is designed for easy retrofit installation on existing locomotives or for OEM applications. Graham-White offers installation kits tailored to specific locomotives. For more information on Graham-White products and services, log on to www.grahamwhite.com.

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Graham-White, headquartered in Salem, VA provides reliable transportation solutions. GW is a world technology leader in the drying of compressed air for locomotives and rail transit vehicles and a wide range of innovative products including the SafeSet™ Locomotive Parking Brake, Electronic Bell-E-BELL®, SludgeBraker™, Computerized Single Car Test Device and an assortment of heavy-duty pneumatic and electro-pneumatic valves and accessories to heavy rail, rail transit, military, truck & bus, and industrial clients.

At locations in Salem, VA, Carson City, NV and now Shreveport, LA, our 238 full-time associates provide the highest level of quality in design, manufacturing and customer service to customers around the globe. Our commitment to improve is evidenced by our ISO 9001:2000 compliance and our ability to meet the requirement of the American Association of Railways' M-1003 on all or our products and services.