Air cars help CN combat extremely cold operating conditions
2/10/2022
By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor
Maintaining operations during winter’s coldest periods is a top objective for CN. To that end, the Class I continues to employ air cars that are designed to control a train’s brake line air flow during a trip to ensure safety and efficiency.
Also known as distributed braking cars, the air cars are converted box cars that feature air compressors and braking system-associated equipment to supply a more consistent flow of air through a train’s brake lines. The cars also help charge brakes to keep trains moving in extremely cold weather.
Air cars are positioned in a way that accommodates long trains. The Class I obtained a waiver in Canada to operate longer trains in part because of its air car usage. The cars can be used instead of employing an additional locomotive, helping to reduce fuel consumption as a result.
The railroad obtained a waiver in Canada to operate longer trains in part because it employs air cars. CN “As an important part of our annual winter plan, air cars greatly support the fluidity, efficiency and safety of our network operations in the harshest conditions,” said Rance Randle, CN’s senior vice president of network operations and transportation, in an online post. “Air cars deployed in the right places at the right times along our network increase our resilience and capacity to safely keep our customers’ shipments moving and supply chains flowing.”
CN began using a fleet of just 10 air cars in 2006. Today, the railroad uses more than 100 of the cars throughout Canada and the U.S. Midwest during the year's coldest months. Over the past 15-plus years, the cars have traveled more than five million miles.
CN analyzes data from winter seasons to help maximize the cars’ effectiveness, and develop standards for air-source configuration and where to place the cars in a train. To learn more about the cars, view the video below.
Video courtesy of CN
CN Air Car from CN on Vimeo.