Coach Brake Blocks

Does anybody know of a supplier other than Unipart Rail of R1 coach brake blocks?
Thanks in advance.
Mark B

 

I,m no expert but found this www.peterbriddon.co.uk

 

Thanks I have run across this company before. They only supply composite brake blocks for coaches. They do however supply cast iron blocks for some industrial diesel locos.

 

I,m curious about composite blocks. Are these carbon/carbon or carbon ceramic composites?

 

Not too sure what the friction material is made from I expect it is a trade secret. They are very light compared to a cast iron block. They claim to have a constant friction factor, and run quiter than an iron block.
Out of interest Eurostar/TGV motor bogies are fitted with compo blocks, but they only come into play at speeds around 20 MPH. At higher speeds the main braking effort comes from the rheo brake.

 

unipart Rail can supply blocks of about 100 on a pallet, about £18 each.

I found RVEL in the Derby RTC buisiness Park usefull(the former FM Rail depot). I wanted 16 blocks for one vehicle. They can supply small quantities if need be it seems. Contact them from their website.
They have R1 and R2, plus blocks for diesel locos like R5.

http://www.rvel.co.uk/

go to "part sales".

 

Thanks. The line of thought is we may go for a pallet of R1 blocks from Unipart Rail, and also conduct a controlled trial with the composite blocks.
Mark B

 

Although composition blocks do last longer, from what I remember they seem to lock the wheels easier (depending on who is applying the brakes in the cab!). Iron blocks will also smooth out minor flats abit where as composite tend to get torn up by the metal burs from the flat.

 

This is why we are looking to conduct a test. The only experience I have with composite brake blocks is on Eurostar power cars. But here the main braking effort comes from the Rheo system. The friction brakes only come into play at lower speeds. We do not seem to have wheel damage, but the blocks do sometimes receive impact damage.

 

Hi, I had PM'd because I wasn't sure what was public knowledge, but...

The Severn Valley Railway purchased "about 20 years supply of BR [carriage] brake blocks" in 2010, part of which "may be recoverable by sales" (SVR News Spring 2010).

Patrick