High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Emergency brake is the generic term for the maximum available braking force that a train crew can apply. Different countries use different systems, but usually the emergency brake applies considerably more braking force than the standard 'full service brake'. The engineer or motorman will only use the emergency brake as a last resort, since it is possible to cause damage; even with modern wheel slide protection the train can develop wheel-flats, and the rails themselves can suffer profile damage. Pulling the engineer's emergency brake handle may also; Shut off traction power.On an electric train, drop the pantograph if the supply is overhead wires traction current, or raise the pick up shoes where the supply is third rail traction current.Disable dynamic braking.