Braking Questions - Simplified brake tests with composite LL blocks under winter conditions in Sweden, February-April 2004

Compliance with prescribed braking distances under winter conditions was one of the major challenges encountered when developing K blocks as a replacement for cast iron blocks on wagons. The results of comparative tests in the Vienna-Arsenal climate-controlled chamber suggested that no such problems were to be expected with LL blocks. In order to prove that LL blocks were also able to provide the requisite braking power under severe winter conditions, brake tests were conducted in northern Sweden during March/April 2004. The results of these tests, and an appraisal thereof, form the subject of this report.