A tread brake assembly for a rail car includes at least one brake block for pressing against a tread of a corresponding rail car wheel, a piston actuator powered by a fluid for driving the tread brake assembly, a brake rigging for transferring a braking stroke from the actuator piston to the at least one brake block, at least one sensor device for measuring at least one parameter of the tread brake assembly, and the tread brake assembly further includes a stroke detector having an active state in which the stroke detector activates the sensor device, wherein the stroke detector is configured to enter its active state upon detecting a force, stress, strain or motion of the brake block, the brake rigging and/or the actuator.

A tread brake assembly for a rail car includes at least one brake block for pressing against a tread of a corresponding rail car wheel, a piston actuator powered by a fluid for driving the tread brake assembly, a brake rigging for transferring a braking stroke from the actuator piston to the at least one brake block, at least one sensor device for measuring at least one parameter of the tread brake assembly, and the tread brake assembly further includes a stroke detector having an active state in which the stroke detector activates the sensor device, wherein the stroke detector is configured to enter its active state upon detecting a force, stress, strain or motion of the brake block, the brake rigging and/or the actuator.