Automated Railroad Retarder

BD&E has developed products for heavy industry application. This Automated Railroad Retarder functions by slowing car motion via pressure on the wheel flange. The pressure adjusts to arrest car motion (absorbing up to 450,000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy), or to slow free-rolling train cars. The hydraulic release mechanism is operated manually or through automatic feedback to accurately control car speed.

The retarder finds applications in hump yards, industrial mining operations, and anywhere there is a potential for runaway cars.

U.S. Patent No. 5,388,525 was granted for this innovation. This product is currently marketed by the Rails Company of Maplewood NJ.