Meanings
- uncountablerail transportBraking by the use of an electric traction motor as a generator when slowing a vehicle such as an electric or diesel-electric locomotive.
The traction motors serve as generators when dynamic braking is used, the generated output being dissipated in fan-cooled resistance banks mounted in a removable roof section. The degree of dynamic braking is under the control of the driver.
1960 April, “English Electric diesels for the Sudan Railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 2181 more example
On the long, continuous downgrades of East Africa dynamic braking is of special value; the traction motors are used as generators and their energy output dissipated in force-ventilated banks of resistors. This facility enables a 700-ton trailing load, for example, to be brought down a 1 in 66 gradient at any selected speed between 14 and 25 m.p.h. without use of the air brakes.
1961 February, “New English Electric diesels for East Africa”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 90–91
Cite this entry
dynamic braking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dynamic%20braking
“dynamic braking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dynamic%20braking. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dynamic braking,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dynamic%20braking.
Source: dynamic braking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.