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Yesterday, New York Air Brake Corp. (NYAB) announced it will supply computer-controlled and electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes, and distributed power control systems for 110 new Spoornet locomotives.

The order is in addition to a contract NYAB and parent Knorr-Bremse obtained from South African freight railroad Spoornet in December 2005 to retrofit 58 locomotives and 3,000 coal cars with ECP brakes and distributed power control systems.

NYAB will provide an integrated package comprising CCB II computer-controlled brakes, EP-60 ECP brakes and WireDP® distributed power control systems. NYAB will link the systems to electric locomotives operating on Coal Link, Spoornet’s 408-mile export coal line.

Spoornet is the first railroad in the world that plans to convert its entire fleet to ECP brakes, according to NYAB.

“The EP-60 system delivers fuel savings in the range of 3 to 4 percent, better train handling … and lower maintenance costs by reducing in-train forces and the resulting wear and tear on cars,” said Marshall Beck, NYAB senior vice president of marketing and sales, in a prepared statement.