IJ:ST mag brakes

Immediately following the splash down on PKI's Italian Job Stunt Track there are several magnetic brakes. When the train passes through the brakes, the two sides become misaligned, and once the train has reached the final brake run, the magnetic brakes re-align themselves.

Can anyone explain why these brakes were designed in such a way, and if other mag brakes operate in a similar manner?

It's a method of controlling the braking action. Each side of the brake caliper creates a magnetic field. The fields of the two magnets interact with one another, and create an interference pattern. At some points, the fields add to one another to create a stronger field, at other points the fields actually oppose one another to create a weaker field. By adjusting the caliper position, the field strength can be adjusted, making it possible to effectively turn the brake "on" or "off" mechanically.

No, I don't completely understand how it works. But it does!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.