BRAKE POWER
CERTIFICATE

BRAKE POWER CERTIFICATE
- RULES
• BPC RULES – FRAMED BY
• RAILWAY BOARD
• COMON FOR ENTIRE INDIAN RAILWAY.
• REVISED LATEST DURING 1982.
• CHIEF MECHANICAL ENGINEER –
AUTHORISED OFFICER TO GIVE SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS CONNECTED TO LOCAL
WORKING OF TRAINS WITH IN THE ZONE.

• MOSTLY VACUUM BRAKE STOCK –
• BPC FORM No – VB 5
• COMON FOR BOTH COACHING AND
GOODS TRAINS.
• BPC NORMALLY VALID UP TO NEXT
TRAIN EXAMINATION YARD.
• COACHING TRAINS FRESH BPC ISSUED
WHEN EVER LOCO CHANGED OR ANY
SHUNTING PERFORMED ON THE TRAIN

NEED TO REVISE THE BPC
RULES
• CHANGE IN THE PATTERN OF GOODS
TRAIN OPERATION.
• TO SPEED UP THE MOVEMENT OF
GOODS.
• TO COPE UP WITH LATEST
DEVELOPMENTS OF TRAIN
OPERATION.

DOVELOPEMENTS IN
ROLLING STOCK
 INTRODUCTION OF AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER
IN BRAKE RIGGING.
 INTRODUCTION OF ROLLER BEARINGS.
 INTRODUCTION OF AIR BRAKE SYSTEM.
 INTRODUCTION OF NEW DESIGN OF TRACK
FRIENDLY WAGONS.
 INTRODUCTION OF COMPOSITE BRAKE BLOCKS.
 PHASING OUT OF 4 WHEELERS AND LAMINATED
BEARING SPRINGS.

• SEPARATE RULES GOVERNING FOR
• COACHING TRAINS –
• GOODS TRAINS-
• REVISED FORM NO FOR BPC.
• RS 6 – COACHING.
• RS 6 – GOODS.

• ANY COACHING TRAIN MOVEMENT IS A PRE
PROGRAMMED MOVEMENT.
• ALL COACHING TRAINS HAVING ITS
NOMINATED RAKES WITH ITS PRE
DETERMINED SET OF COMPOSITION OF
COACHES – RAKE COMPOSITION – ITS
DETERMINED MOVEMENT - RAKE LINK –
AND EACH RAKE IS BASED TO A COACHING
DEPOT FOR ITS PRIMARY MAINTENENCE.
• COACHING RAKES ARE BASED TO A
NOMINATED COACHING DEPOT FOR ITS
ATTENTION – PRIMARY MAINTENANCE.

• STANDARDS ARE FIXED FOR PRIMARY
MAINTENANCE BY RAILWAY BOARD.
• AFTER P M ATTENTION THE RAKE IS SUPPOSED
TO COVER 2500 KMS OF RUN.
• ACCORDINGLY COACHING BPCS ARE ISSUED IN
THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS.
1. SINGLE BPC FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAINS
2. RETURN BPC FOR SHORT DISTANCE
TRAIN LINKS
3. ROUND BPC FOR PASSENGER RAKES.

COACHING BPC OTHER
IMPORTANT CONDITIONS
• AN ENDORSEMENT TO BE MADE IN THE
BPC WHERE EVER LOCOMOTIVE CHANGED or ANY SHUNTING PERFORMED TO ENSURE
BRAKE CONTINUITY AND MINIMUM
REQUIRED PRESSURE LEVELS IN BRAKE
SYSTEM .
• IN THE ABSENCE OF MECHANICAL STAFF IT
IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GUARD AND
LOCO PILOT TO ENSURE THIS ASPECT.
• A SEPARATE AIR CONTINUITY CERTIFICATE
IS BEING ISSUED BY MECHNICAL DEPT. FOR
THIS IN OTHER ZONES.

• THERE IS NO LIMIT FOR ATTACHING /
DETACHING OF COACHES ENROUTE FOR
PRE PROGRAMMED MOVEMENT AS PER
LINK.
• FOR UN PROGRAMMED OR OCCASIONAL
MOVEMENTS OF ATTACHING COACHES
ENROUTE IF NUMBER OF COACHES
ATTACHED IS MORE THAN TWO A FRESH
BPC SHOULD BE ISSUED.
• IN ANY SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE BRAKE
CONTINUITY AND MINIMUM REQUIRED
PRESSURE LEVELS IN LOCOMOTIVE AND
REAR BRAKE VAN

• IN THE COMPETITIVE WORLD FOR
MRAKETTING THE PRODUCTS QUICK
TRANSPORTION MODE PLAYS VERY
IMPORTANT ROLE
• AS FAR AS GOODS TRAIN MOVEMENTS ARE
CONCERNED IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO
PREDICT THE LOADING, MOVEMENT,
DESTINATION AND OTHER FACTORS.
• WITH ALL THE FACTORS, IT IS OUR PRIME
RESPONSIBILITY TO MOVE THE LOADS AS
QUICK AS POSSIBLE TO THEIR
DESTINATIONS.

• KEEPING THIS IN MIND MAJOR CHANGES WERE
MADE IN GOODS LOADING AND TRANSPORTING.
GOODS BPC RULES FRAMED ACCORDINGLY ,
BALANCING THE SAFETY ASPECTS AND MOVING
THE LOADS BY QUICKEST POSSIBLE MEANS.
• STUDYING THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SOURCES OF
TRAFFIC, FUTURE POTENTIALS, INDUSTRIAL
DEVELOPMENTS , OTHER CONNECTED FACTORS
DIFFERENT POLICY DECISIONS WERE TAKEN
FROM TIME TO TIME.
• ALL THE GOODSHED AT INTERMEDIATE
STATIONS WERE CLOSED.
• NOW RAILWAY ACCEPTS FULL RAKE LOADING OR
A MINIMUM OF HALF RAKE LOADING.
• PEACEMEAL LOADING IS RESTRICTED.

• WITH DEVELOPED SYSTEM OF AIR BRAKE
WAGONS THE MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT
SHOULD CERTIFY THE WAGONS / TRAINS
TO ANY FAR AWAY DESTINATION OVER
INDIAN RAILWAY ON ONE EXAMINATION.
• AIR BRAKE STOCK ON INTENSIVE
EXAMINATION SHOULD BE CERTIFIED FOR
4500 Kms RUN.
• BASED ON THE TRAFFIC REQUIRMENTS ON
ONE HAND AND CONSIDERING THE
SAFETY ON THE OTHER HAND BPC RULES
FRAMED.

• STANDARDS WERE LAID DOWN FOR
INTENSIVE EXAMINATION OF GOODS
TRAINS AT NOMINATED GOODS YARDS IN
EACH DIVISION / ZONES.
• STANDARDS FOR EXAMIONATION/
ATTENTION / TESTING / REQUIREMENT OF
BASIC FACILITIES FOR ATTENTION ARE TO
BE AVAILABLE IN NOMINATED YARDS
• 40 MAN HOURS TIME GIVEN FOR THIS TASK.
• THE WAGONS ARE TO BE THOROUGHLY
EXAMINED AND ATTENDED IN ALL
RESPECTS AND TESTED FOR BRAKE POWER
AND TO BE CERTIFIED FOR 4500 Kms RUN.

• INTENSIVE BPC – EXAMINATION OF
WAGONS IN EMPTY CONDITION AND
CERTIFYING THEM.
• END TO END BPC – EXAMINATION OF
LOADED WAGONS AND CERTIFYING THEM
TO ITS DESTINATION ON ONE
EXAMINATION.
• CLOSED CIRCUIT RAKES – GOODS TRAINS
OPERATED ON CLOSED CIRCUITS –
COMMITED GOODS TRAFFIC.

• INTENSIVE BPC : AS PER THE POLICY
DECISION AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THE WAGONS
ARE TO BE OFFERED FOR TRAIN
EXAMINATION IN EMPTY CONDITION.
• THIS WILL AVOID –
• DETENTION OF LOADS FOR EXAMINATION
PURPOSE.
• LOADED WAGONS MARKED SICK AND
DETAINED AT YARDS DISTURBING THE
RAKE INTEGRITY.

• EVEN IF MORE TIME IS TAKEN FOR
EXAMINATION / ATTENTION OR ANY
WAGONS MARKED SICK WILL NOT AFFECT
THE CUSTOMER DIRECTLY .
• AFTER EXAMINING ONE FULL RAKE, BPC
TO BE ISSUED, THEN OFER THE WAGONS
FOR LOADING THEREBY LOADS MAY BE
MOVED TO THEIR DESTINATION
ANYWHERE IN THE INDIAN RAILWAY
WITHOUT WAITING FOR ANY TRAIN
EXAMINATION / ATTENTION.

PREMIUM BPC
• Further development in Intensive BPC – Air Brake formations examined in Empty condition and certified for
4500 kms or 12 days duration up to which the rakes can be loaded / unloaded twice or thrice.
• A grace period of 3 days is also given if the rake is in loaded condition on the way towards its destination.
• Rake integrity should be maintained. For which individual wagons numbers list attached with BPC as Annexure A
• Kilometers earned from the date of issue of BPC is also recorded in Annexure B of the BPC .
• Correct setting of Load / Empty box is the responsibility of Traffic staff.

TO ENSURE SAFETY THE
FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE
GIVEN IN BPC RULES
• WHILE ISSUING THE BPC DESTINATION
COLUMN TO BE LEFT BLANK.
• WAGONS TO BE LOADED WITH IN 4 DAYS OF
THE DATE OF ISSUE OF BPC.
• AS SOON AS THE WAGONS ARE LOADED,
STATION MASTER OF THE LOADING
STATION TO FILL UP THE DESTINATION
COLUMN OF THE BPC CORRECTLY.
• NO OVER WRITING / ALTERATIONS IN THE
OTHER PARTICULARS OF BPC IS PERMITTED

• SETTING OF LOAD / EMPTY BOX LEVER TO
CORRECT POSITION LIES WITH STAFF OF TRAFFIC
DEPARTMENT.
• STABLING OF THE RAKE ENROUTE MORE THAN
THE STIPULATED PERIOD IS NOT PERMITTED.
• THE INTEGRITY OF THE RAKE SHOULD BE
MAINTAINED.
• WHENEVER STABLED ENROUTE BPC TO BE
HANDEDOVER TO STATION MASTER BY LOCO
PILOT.
• WHILE CLEARING THE STOCK THE TRAIN
SHOULD BY JOINTLY CHECKED BY GUARD AND
LOCO PILOT – GDR CHECK. – CONTINUITY CHECK.

• CLEARING OF STOCK WITH GDR
CHECK
• EVEN IF VALID BPC IS AVAILABLE FOR A
TRAIN AT ENROUTE THE GDR SHOULD
CHECK THE FORMATION AND ENSURE
MINIMUM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF
THE TRAIN AND THEN ADVISE SM BY
WRITTEN MEMO.
• ON GETTING THE MEMO, SM SHOULD
HANDOVER THE BPC TO LOCO PILOT,
START THE TRAIN AND CLEAR THE
STOCK.

• IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE CHECKED BY GDR
• CONTINUITY AND MINIMUM REQIIRED AIR
PRESSURE / VACUUM LEVEL.
• CORRECT CONNECTION OF VAC/AIR PIPE AND ITS
FITTINGS, LEVEL OF VAC/AIR PRESSURE.
• CONDITION OF COUPLINGS AND ITS LOCKING
ETC.
• ANY BREAKAGE / DISLOCATION OF
COMPONENTS.
• ANY HANGING PART OF WAGON COMPONENTS
INFRINGING THE FREE MOVEMENT OF AXLE AND
WHEEL.
• CORRECT SETTING OF LOAD/EMPTY BOX
HANDLE.

• LIMITATIONS
• ON GDR CHECK IF ANY SICK WAGON IS
NOTICED IT SHOULD BE DETACHED
FOR ATTENTION .
• IF THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED OF THE
IMPORTANT SAFETY CONDITIONS,
THAT HAS TO BE ADVISED TO SM AND
CONTROL IN DETAIL AND ACT
ACCORDING TO THE GUIDANCE OF
CONTROL.

In vacuum brake system availability of vacuum at rear B.V. itself is enough to say that the brake system of the whole train from
T.E. to last is connected through hence there is no valve / cock arrangement in the Train pipe
.

In case of Air Brake system it is not so. There are possibilities for the presence of compressed air inside the Brake pipe or Feed pipe even if there is no loco motive available on the formation. Hence to ensure
Brake continuity more attention is required. A very simple and common test is to be followed by GDR before starting train to ensure brake continuity.

AIR BRAKE SYSTEM
• IN A B S ALL THE ANGLE COCKS FROM TE
TO LAST B.V TO BE KEPT IN OPEN
CONDITION TO HAVE BRAKE FOR ALL
COACHES / WAGONS IN THE TRAIN.
• THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES OF WRONG
CONECTION OF PIPES IN SERVICE, (i.e)
• FP OF LOCO CONNECTED TO BP OF
WAGONS IN CASE OF GOODS S.P.ABS.
• FP AND BP INTERCHANGED AT ANGLE
COCK LEVEL THERE BY CONECTING BP TO
FP AND FP TO BP BETWEEN LOCO AND
COACH.

• AIM OF CONTINUITY TEST IS TO
ENSURE ALL THE BRAKE PIPE ANGLE
COCKS FROM LOCOMOTIVE TILL LAST
WAGON ARE IN OPEN CONDITION.
•
APART FROM THIS TO DETECT WRONG
CONNECTION OF BP / FP.
• A VERY SIMPLE TEST IS TO BE
CONDUCTED BY BOTH LOCO PILOTS
AND GUARDS AT THE STARTING
POINTS AND WHEREEVER LOCO
CHANGED OR ANY SHUNTING
PERFORMED IN THE TRAIN


THIS CAN OTHERWISE TERMED AS TO ENSURE
BRAKE CYLINDER APPLYING BRAKE WHEN
DRIVER ACTUATED BRAKING DULY REDUCING
BP PRESSURE FROM LOCOMOTIVE AND
RELEASING OF BRAKES WHEN ACTUATED FROM
LOCOMOTIVE.

GUARD TO CHECK BRAKE CYLINDER APPLYING
BRAKE AND RELEASING FOR FEW WAGONS /
COACHES FROM REAR PART.

ASSISTANT LOCO PILOT TO CHECK FEW IN
FRONT PORTION OF THE TRAIN.

BY THIS SIMPLE TEST ALL THE ABOVE MANUAL
FAILURES CAN BE DETECTED.