When hauling air-braked stock, there is a compressor in the first coach that supplies air for the braking system. The red pipe is for connecting to that. Some locomotives like Fairy Queen carry their compressors on-board but it is still powered by the generator in the trailing cars.


When on their own, these locomotives have to rely on their vacuum brakes and steam brakes. In all they now have four kinds of brakes including mechanical brakes!