Electronic configurable equalizing reservoir backup system

A method of operating a locomotive air brake backup system, comprising the steps of:

• providing an equalizing reservoir backup module configured to receive a signal representing movement of a brake handle from a human machine interface and to receive a configuration message from a brake system controller;
• receiving the configuration message, wherein the configuration message establishes how the equalizing reservoir backup module is to transform the signal representing movement of the brake handle into the predetermined equalizing reservoir pressure;
• receiving the signal representing movement of a brake handle from a human machine interface;
• and
• transforming the signal representing movement of the brake handle from the human machine interface into a predetermined equalizing reservoir pressure according to the configuration message establishing how the equalizing reservoir backup module is to transform the signal representing movement of the brake handle into the predetermined equalizing reservoir pressure.