brake van
noun1
Rail transport, Railways, Transport UK, Dated A railway vehicle used to brake a (goods) train, usually placed at the end of the train. These were essential before continuous train braking became universal.
- The provision of sanding-gear on brake vans operating over such lines should be compulsory (this old Highland brake was not so fitted); [...].1940 November, “Notes and News: A Highland Collision”, in Railway Magazine, page 612:
- Related terms
- caboose, guard's van