Brake force

where: In the case of railways, it is important that staff are aware of the brake force of a train so sufficient brake power will be available to bring the train to a halt within the required distance from a given speed.

Older wagons typically were not fitted with brakes that could be operated from the locomotive, sometimes these are referred to as unfitted freights.

[citation needed] While very early passenger trains might have had brakes that would have been applied by a brakesman riding in say every second carriage modern passenger vehicles have brakes that will be applied to all vehicles.

Some cases arise because the brake force to weight ratio of a locomotive of typically 80 to 120 tonnes in weight is often less than that of passenger vehicle in the 40 tonne range; and it may be that locomotives running by themselves require several coaches to be attached if the train is to run at its maximum permitted speed with a suitable brake force to weight ratio.

In this case additional braking vehicles may be attached or the train may need to run at reduced speed.