Emergency Brakes
Random and nerdy question… two times in the past week or so, I have been on a 7K train that had its emergency brakes activated.
The first time was between East Falls Church and McLean headed westbound. Our train was in ATO and I heard the air dump followed by us coming to a screeching halt.
The second time was in between East Falls Church and Ballston headed east. The train was in manual and I heard the air dump right as we entered Ballston.
I usually sit in the front car, and neither time did I see anything that I think would call for activating the emergency brakes or hear anything over the radio.
I know that the master controller has a deadman’s switch (when in manual) and there are also mushroom buttons in the cab to activate an emergency stop. I’m curious if 1. the train by itself can set the emergency brakes, and 2. if emergency brake applications happen often, whether by accident or purpose. It was just odd it happened to me twice in a short time frame