noun

• A railroad-vehicle brake operated by changes in pressure in a continuous pipe that is generally kept exhausted of air by a pump and controls similar brakes throughout the train.

  ‘It may be admitted that with the increase in speeds and loads, few railways now use the vacuum brake.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Johanns was thoroughly burnt but managed to stop the train by using a vacuum brake.’
  • ‘The manifold is sealed with a spin-welded end cap (which also serves as a mounting bracket for the vacuum brake booster).’
  • ‘Electric brakes are most common, although vacuum brakes are seen on large commercial trailers.’
  • ‘It is the longest car train ever out of East London and will use an airbrake system instead of the normal vacuum brakes.’