Yes, that is the European Automatic-Vacuum System.
I'm searching for a diagram and/or description of the US 1880s Straight Vacuum System.
As I understand it . .
Each Car and the Locomotive had a Vacuum Brake Diaphragm or Cylinder.
They were all connected to a Vacuum Line that ran the length of the train.
The Loco had an Eductor (like a Venturi) to generate the Vacuum.
Blowing steam from the Boiler thru the Eductor created a Vacuum in the Train Vacuum Line and applied the Brakes.
Releasing the Vacuum, bu admitting air into the Vacuum Line, released the Brakes.
What I don't know is whether there was a Check Valve in the Vacuum Line after the Eductor?
If the engineer applied vacuum to the Train Line via the Eductor, was it "locked-in" by a Check Valve?
Or did the Train Line Vacuum go back to ZERO when the steam flow thru the Eductor was stopped?
We DO know that the exhaust steam from the Eductor was released to the atmosphere by one of three methods:
#1 It was dumped to atmosphere via an open-ended pipe; this was VERY NOISY when the brakes were applied.
#2 It was dumped to the Smokebox and up the Stack; this quieted the released steam.
#3 It was dumped via a Muffler; this typically protruded above the Cab Roof.
So, I think we really need TWO Brake Valves:
(1) One to admit steam to the Eductor, generate the Vacuum in the Train Brake Pipe, and apply the Brakes,
and, assuming there is a Check Valve to "lock-in" the Train Line Vacuum,
(2) One to admit Air into the Train Line to relieve the Vacuum and release the Brakes.
Were any parts of the Vacuum Brake system on #9 when she arrived from CT???