Brake locomotive

A brake locomotive is a locomotive that is mainly used to simulate a railroad train as a towing load or to serve as a load for determining the performance of another locomotive.

Brake locomotives have particularly powerful braking devices such as the Riggenbach counter-pressure brake on steam locomotives or the resistance brake on electric locomotives .

During braking tests, the test train is led by the locomotive to be tested. Behind it is a measuring car that records the tensile forces. The brake locomotive initially helps accelerate the train to the intended speed, but later uses its brakes to simulate the trailer load of other vehicles . The trailer load at which the pulling locomotive can still maintain the speed of the test train is recorded.