It was a bad wheel bearing. Had nothing to do with the brake system. All modern power carry dynamic breaking in the engines as well as pressurized air throughout the entire lashup. There's sensors at the rear of every train to detect brake failure, pressure loss, etc. This was an issue of car maintenance and lack of proper car and field inspections by the NS maintenance staff. There is also the issue of not having a sufficient amount of what's known as hot box detectors along the line. They're sensors placed intermittently along mainline tracks that detect above average heat from car axels or if a train is dragging something.
There is no evidence that this braking system would do anything to help a train with the axles burning up.
The recent congressional mandate to get back to work after the rail strike threat resulted in inspection time of these cars being cut in half...
The train company, Norfolk Southern Railway, who made billions of dollars profit last year alone, offered a $25,000 donation to help with the thousands of people this has displaced. LOL at $25,000.
Besides, what is running around with your hair on fire screaming "but Trump! but Trump!" going to do? He's been out of office for 2 years now and Biden had a Democratic controlled House in that time...
