Air Brake Test (CFR 232) – Interactive 3D Simulation


BACKGROUND & PROBLEM: Inspecting and testing rail car air brakes, a common railroad task, is a fundamental part of a railroad’s initial training for Conductors and rail car Mechanics. This inspection and testing, known as Class 1 Air Brake Test (CFR 232), requires railroads to have multiple rail cars on-site and allocate a significant amount of training time for demonstration, practices, and evaluation.

SOLUTION OVERVIEW: To alleviate physical space and time constraints, Railroads (BNSF, UP, CSX, Norfolk Southern, KCS and more) deploy simulation based training (by Heartwood) covering the complete inspection process. The simulation allows a student to visually inspect a variety of randomized rail cars, as part of a train, while manipulating brake components as necessary to properly configure the brake system. The student determines correct brake pressure and inspects for brake application & release via an exam practice mode. This gives the student additional practice at their pace, from any device, with a record of their performance given at the end.

POSSIBLE DEFECTS

  • Air hose leaking
  • Uncoupled air hoses
  • Piston leaking
  • Angle Cock leaking or closed
  • Retainer Valve leaking
  • Cut Out Cock leaking or closed
  • Fouled brake rigging
    Complete list here.

CONSISTS

Car Types

  • Gondola
  • Flat
  • Box
  • Tanker
  • Hopper
  • Well/Intermodal

Body Mounted Brakes

  • Rod-under
  • Rod-thru
  • Hook & Eye

Truck Mounted Brakes

  • Thrall
  • TMX
  • TTX
  • UBX
  • TMB
  • TMB-60
  • Wabcopac I / II

BENEFITS:
1. Improved knowledge of air brake components and functions and increased efficiency performing the Air Brake Test.
2. Reduced need for live equipment (Locomotives/Rail cars allocated for training).
3. A standardized training resource and formalized tool for refresher training – part of a wider initiative for meeting FRA Part 243 training requirements.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
After using the sim, employees should be able to:

  • Identify and determine the correct positioning of rail car air brake system components
  • Manipulate rail car air brake system components and determine correct brake pipe pressure
  • Inspect brake system components to determine if a brake is applied or released
  • Complete a Class I Brake Test (CFR 232)

“Confidence and mastery demonstrated has noticeably improved! Where students seemed uncertain before, they now know what they’re doing. Training 100 mechanics & 1800 conductors using the sim and up to 15,000 soon ”
– Manager Technical Training, Norfolk Southern (read their Success story and Interview here!)

“The ability to practice within the virtual environment is leading us toward better knowledge retention and fewer mistakes. Employees retain and understand more of what they’re learning, and remember safety protocols. We are training one-third of transportation employees each year and a version that’s more specific to mechanical employees. Every three years we’ll cycle through the whole population – every transportation employee will be trained on it”
– Senior Director Operations Training, CSX

Download the Air Brake Test Sim Brochure here.

This year 45,315 railroaders will stay competent with these training simulations and guides.

Want to license this training solution for your workforce? Reach out here – [email protected] or call 888.781.0274 ext. 701

View our complete Catalog of Rail Training Solutions available for your team to deploy today.