British- looking for info- Vacuum Brake Co Ltd London

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808Beachbum

New Member
My family has over 150 years rail service in the US, but somehow, through the family, I have acquired a "Vacuum Brake Instruction Book" by the referenced company. It references a "Dreadnought Ejector", and has two fold out charts. One shows the "General Arrangement of the Vacuum Automatic Brake on Tank Engine and Bogie Carriage With Guard's Compartment". The other fold out shows the "General Arrangement of the Vacuum Automatic Brake". The booklet measures 4 3/4 inches by 7 1/8 inches, with brown front and back cover and hidden string binding. The cover features a logo with "V.B.Co" inside an oval graphic. I am trying to determine what year(s) this would have been produced, and/or years the actual equipment was used.

Thanks for any assistance.
 
I know it was still in use through WWII. The passenger engine Dwight Eisenhour used during the war, that Britain sent over here for a tour was equipped with vacuum brakes.
 
Thanks, it seems like the "Instruction Book" is likely from the around the 1880's period as I originally suspected. I have included a link to some photos of the book for anyone interested. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZxMwScpxkrzw6aiPA

I also note from the Wikipedia page that this specific device "enjoyed a brief period of adoption" on some US narrow gauge lines. Perhaps it was found on some UP short lines? If so, that could explain how this came to be in my collection...
 




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