[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Seems like spring brakes would be a good idea.

[Talisker]

Seems like spring brakes would be a good idea.

Not nearly strong enough. Even one of these rail cars can weigh over a hundred tons - imagine forty or more lined up together. Put that on any kind of grade, and spring brakes might as well be rubber bands.

[rawhide]

Here is an informative thread on train brakes:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120225065552AAHkHaP