ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Pintsch gas

Well, when a train or subway needs to stop, it usually uses brakes to slow down or come to a complete stop. But what if the brakes fail or there's an emergency situation? That's where Pintsch gas comes in!

Pintsch gas is a type of gas that is used to power the emergency brakes on trains and subways. It's named after August Pintsch, a German engineer who invented the system in the late 1800s.

Basically, there are small canisters of Pintsch gas located throughout the train or subway. When the emergency brake is activated, these canisters release the gas, which creates pressure and causes the brake system to engage quickly and forcefully, bringing the train to a stop as quickly as possible.

It's kind of like blowing up a balloon really fast - the air rushing in creates pressure that makes the balloon inflate quickly. Pintsch gas is like that - it creates pressure that makes the brakes engage quickly when they're needed most.

So while we hope that we never have to experience an emergency situation while riding a train or subway, it's good to know that the Pintsch gas system is in place to keep us safe in case anything goes wrong.