Abstract: An electromagnetic sliding shoe brake also referred to as a slipper shoe ke is constructed especially for use in or on rail vehicles, especially high speed rail vehicles. The magnetic core, with its energizing coil, has at least two pole pieces. The sliding brake shoe comprises ferromagnetic pole plates alternating with interconnecting magnetically insulating members. The pole plates, or rather the brake shoe, is connected to the magnetic core substantially in a frictionless manner. The brake shoe is connected to the magnetic core by parallelogram type pivoting elements and biased against the chassis by one or two springs (7) which will assure that in operation the brake shoe is pressed against a brake force take-up member at least with a predetermined brake force which will be substantially constant and independent of the friction coefficient between the brake shoe and the brake force take-up member such as a rail.