brake tender noun1 •(UK) A railway vehicle which provided extra braking on freight trains with unfitted wagons (without automatic brakes) hauled by diesel locomotives, which being generally lighter than steam locomotives had less braking power. With the phasing out of unfitted wagons the brake tenders became redundant.By the beginning of April at least seven green-liveried diesel brake tenders had been delivered to Toton depot and were being tested with B.R. Sulzer Type 4 diesels. — 1962 formsbrake tenders
