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I'm guessing you answered your own question. If they put the break on the last car, they could let the train compress backwards before starting. Naturally it
by tempestn 12y ago
I'm guessing you answered your own question. If they put the break on the last car, they could let the train compress backwards before starting. Naturally it would still be more work than starting from flat though, so obviously there would be an incline limit beyond which a given train couldn't start regardless.
- refurb 12y agoCan the last car's brakes hold the weight of all the cars in front of it? Can the conductor apply each car's brakes independently? Interesting stuff!
- tempestn 12y agoThe original article stated that a train wasn't able to start because the caboose's brake was on, so presumably the answer to the second question is yes, at least for that car. Presumably the first question would depend on the slope of the incline (although if necessary other brakes could be engaged after their cars' couplings were compressed). Anyway, all just conjecture on my part!