The current reliance on locomotive dynamic brakes rather than the "Civil War era" air brakes is what is responsible for the heavy wear and tear on the tracks, not the other way around. There is a reason why trains still use the cenutury old Westinghouse air bake system, it works! Unfortunately railroads discourage engineers from using air brakes (stretch braking) in favor of locomotive dynamic brakes because dynamic brakes provide better fuel economy but poorer train handling. Railroads don't need a new brake system, engineers need to be allowed to go back to relying on the older methods!