However, air brakes can be made much more effective than vacuum brakes for a given size of brake cylinder.

Air in the upper part of the brake cylinders is also exhausted from the train pipe, through a Check valve.

Moreover, a small brake cylinder is adequate for braking purpose.

These operate by means of a simple valve which dumps all available pressure into the brake cylinder.

A development introduced in the 1950s was the direct admission valve, fitted to every brake cylinder.

This has a number of advantages, including smaller brake cylinders (because higher air pressure could be used) and a somewhat more responsive braking effort.

Braking force was translated into pressure that was sent to the rear brake cylinder.

Also new was a dual-master brake cylinder and optional front disc brakes.

Then, four days before the race, all the brake cylinders blew.

We're getting pressure in our brake cylinders here.